Effects of different levels of Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl. (Apiaceae) powder and extract on performance, carcass characteristics, and antioxidant status in broiler chickens

Abstract Objective This study evaluated the effects of dietary inclusion of Prangos ferulacea (Apiaceae) powder and its aqueous extract on performance, carcass characteristics, serum metabolites, and antioxidant status in broiler chickens. Materials and methods A total of 300 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with four replicates each: a control diet, diets containing 0.75% or 1.5% P. ferulacea powder, and diets supplemented with 750 or 1500 mg/kg P. ferulacea aqueous extract. Diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous based on calculated nutrient composition and were not chemically analyzed. The pen was considered the experimental unit. Growth performance was monitored over a 43-day period. Carcass traits, serum metabolites, and antioxidant biomarkers were evaluated at 22–23 days of age. Phytochemical characterization of the powder and extract for total phenolics, flavonoids, and coumarins was performed. Results Dietary treatments did not significantly affect overall body weight gain (BWG) or feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, BWG during days 24–43 was significantly reduced in [mention groups, e.g., the 1.5% powder and 1500 mg/kg extract groups] compared with the control ( P = 0.02). Serum triglycerides were significantly lower in birds fed 0.75% powder ( P < 0.05), while serum VLDL was not significantly affected. Relative gizzard weight was increased in some supplemented groups, but this observation remains speculative due to lack of particle size measurement. The 1500 mg/kg aqueous extract significantly increased serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) ( P < 0.05) but was also associated with increased serum malondialdehyde (MDA) ( P < 0.05) and reduced liver glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Dietary supplementation with P. ferulacea powder (0.75% and 1.5% of the diet) or aqueous extract (750 and 1500 mg/kg of diet) did not improve overall growth performance or most carcass traits in broiler chickens. The treatments modified selected serum and hepatic antioxidant biomarkers; however, the concurrent increase in serum TAC and MDA together with reduced hepatic GPx activity at the highest extract dose does not demonstrate an unequivocal antioxidant benefit. Further studies using chemically standardized P. ferulacea products, greater replication, and an oxidative-stress challenge model are required to clarify the biological effects and mechanisms of action of this plant.