EFFECT OF PERIODIC SUPPLEMENTATION OF HERBAL INFUSION ON THE LIVER FUNCTION AND LIPID PROFILE OF BROILER CHICKENS

The present research study was undertaken at poultry research unit of Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan in June-July, 2010 to investigate the effect of different timings of supplementing medicinal plants (Berberis lycium, Allium stivum, Solanum nigrum and Terminalia arjuna) infusion on the liver function and lipid profile of broiler at day-42. 240 day-old boiler chickens were randomly allocated to four groups ; TI-0D, TI-1D, TI-2D, and TI-3D and received infusion (50 ml L^-1) on daily , alternate , two and three days of interval, respectively. All groups were divided into two sub–groups (vaccinated and non-vacinated) each replicated thrice (10 chickens/replicate). Significantly (P 0.05) lower Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels were recorded in group TI-2D, while ALT and ALP levels were the highest in group TI-0D. Numerically lower serum protein in group TI-0D and the higher in group TI-2D was observed. Mean serum triglyceride level was lower (p 0.05) in group TI-2D and significantly higher group TI-0D. High density lipoprotein (HDL) level was significantly (P 0.05) higher in group TI-2D compared to other groups. Serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) was lowest in group TI-2D and highest in group TI-0D. It revealed that supplementing herbal infusion of Berberis lycium, Allium sativum, Solanum nigrum and Terminalia arjuna at two days of interval can improve the liver function and serum lipid profile of broiler chickens.