Antioxidant Enzyme Status in Broiler Chicken: Role of Dietary Supplementation of Pawpaw Leaf and Seed Meal Composite Mix

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the role of dietary supplementation of pawpaw leaf and seed meal composite mix on antioxidant enzyme status in broiler chicken. Pawpaw leaves were harvested, chopped into smaller pieces, air-dried and milled to pawpaw leaf meal (PLM). Seeds of ripe pawpaw fruits were also air-dried and ground to pawpaw seed meal (PSM). The PLM and PSM were mixed together at ration 3:1 to form a pawpaw leaf and seed meal composite mix (PLSMM) and analysed for chemical analysis. Two basal diets were formulated for the starter (0 to 21 days of age) and grower/finisher phase (22 to 42 days of age). Thereafter, basal diets were divided into six (6) portions. Portion one (Diet 1), contained 0g/kg PLSMM supplementation, portion two (Diet 2), was supplemented with 2 g/kg PLSMM, while portions three (Diet 3), four (Diet4), five (Diet 5) and six (Diet 6) were supplemented with 4, 6, 8 and 10 g/kg respectively. On day 42 of the experiment, blood was collected from 3 birds per replicate into aplain bottle for antioxidant enzymes determination. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity significantly (p<0.05) increased in the broilers fed diets supplemented with 6, 8 and 10g/kg PLSMM. Significantly (p<0.05) increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was recorded at 4, 6, 8 and 10g/kg PLSMM dietary supplementation when compared to 0g/kg and 2g/kg PLSMM dietary supplementation. Catalase (CAT) activity significantly (p<0.05) increased in birds fed 8g/kg PLSMM supplemented diets when compared to the other diets.