OXIDATIVE STATUS OF BROILER CHICKENS FED UZIZA LEAF (PIPER GUINEENSE) AND UDA SEED (XYLOPIA AETHIOPICA) SUPPLEMENTED DIETS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTIC-SUPPLEMENTS

Abstract

Herbal plants like Uziza (Piper guineense) and Uda (Xylopia aethiopica) can be used for its biological, therapeutic and pharmacological properties without any toxicity. The use of antibiotics as growth promoter in animal production poses a threat to human health due to its residual effects in animal products. The study determines effect of Uziza leaf and Uda seed supplemented diets on oxidative status of broiler chickens. One hundred and twenty broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments (24 birds/replicate). The Treatment 1 was fed with basal Treatment (positive control), Treatment 2, Treatment 3, Treatment 4 and Treatment 5 were received the basal diet plus Oxytetracycline 1g/kg (negative control), Uziza leaf powder 5g/kg, Uda seed powder 5g/kg and Uziza leaf and Uda seed 3g/kg each, respectively. The experimental trial lasted for six weeks. Blood samples of broiler chickens were collected and evaluated for oxidative status. The data were subjected to statistical analysis of oneway analysis of variance using completely randomized design. The total antioxidant activity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, superoxidase dismutase, glutathione and malonyldialdehyde were influenced (p<0.05) by Uziza leaf and Uda seed supplemented diets in broiler chickens. This study has shown that supplementation of Uda seed and Uziza leaf improved oxidative status of broiler chickens when added at the rate of 5g/kg in poultry ration