The Effect of Different Levels of Galangal (Alpinia officinarum) Powder on Growth Performance, Lipid Parameters, and Liver and Aantioxidant Enzymes in Japanese Quails under Heat Stress Conditions

Background: Medicinal plants can have potential supportive effects by enhancing the body's antioxidant system.These plant compounds are able to directly reduce the production of oxygen free radicals during all types of stress by inhibiting the producing enzymes.Generally, probiotics as food products are able to be freed from enzymatic digestion by mice and settle in large amounts at the end of the digestive tract of the host, especially in the ceca.Studies have shown that probiotics strengthen intestinal flora and the immune system, increase nutrient digestibility, and improve growth performance.This research was conducted to study the effect of different levels of Alpinia officinarum powder on growth performance, lipid profiles, and liver and antioxidant enzymes in Japanese quails under heat stress conditions.Methods: The experiment was conducted using 408 one-day-old quail chicks in the form of a completely randomized design with 17 experimental units with six treatments and four replications.Experimental treatments included 1-control (fed with a basic diet without A. officinarum powder and probiotics), 2-basic ration with 50 mg of A. officinarum powder, 3-basic ration with 100 mg of A. officinarum powder, 4-basic ration with 50 mg of A. officinarum powder + 2 / 0 g/kg of Lactofid probiotic, 5-basic ration with 100 mg of A. officinarum powder + 2 / 0 g/kg of Lactofid probiotic, and 6-basic diet was Lactofid with 2 / 0 g/kg of probiotics.Performance traits (weight gain, feed consumption, and food conversion ratio (FCR)) of quail chicks were investigated at 20, 10, and 35 days old and the whole period.At the end of the test period, one piece of birds was randomly weighed from each pen, killed, and immediately skinned, and the carcass and its parts were weighed afterward.At the end of the test period, one quail piece was randomly selected from each unit to measure blood parameters.Results: Addition of sea buckthorn powder A. officinarum and probiotics caused a significant increase in body weight during rearing periods (p < 0.05).Body weight was affected by sea A. officinarum powder and probiotics throughout the entire rearing period (1-35 days of age) (p < 0.05).The parameters of feed consumption in the entire rearing period were significantly affected by experimental treatments (p < 0.05).The simultaneous use of 50 and 100 mg of A. officinarum powder with 0.2 g/kg of probiotic significantly reduced feed consumption compared to the control treatment, respectively.The lowest and the highest FCR values during the rearing periods and the entire rearing period were observed in treatments 4 and 5 and the control treatment.A. officinarum powder has antioxidant properties, stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, and possesses a strong germicidal property.The menthol present in this essential oil increases the digestion and absorption of nutrients by reducing the harmful microbes of the digestive tract and increasing the secretions of the pancreas and other digestive organs and, as a result, the weight of quails.By increasing the activity of digestive enzymes and neutralizing internal toxins produced by other microorganisms, probiotics cause better functioning of the intestinal absorption level and beneficial effects on poultry performance.Feeding A. officinarum powder and Lactofid probiotic had a significant effect on lipid profiles (p < 0.05).Antioxidant substances in A. officinarum are