Effects of curcumin or nanocurcumin on blood biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology and microbial population of broiler chickens reared under normal and cold stress conditions

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of curcumin/nanocurcumin on blood parameters, intestinal morphology and microbial population in broiler chickens reared under normal and cold stress conditions. The experiment was designed with two identical houses; each consisted of five diets with 5 replicates of 10 birds each. The diets were (1) control; (2) and (3) Control+200 or 400mg/kg curcumin; (4) and (5) Control + 200 or 400mg/kg nanocurcumin, respectively. Birds in both houses were reared under commercial temperatures until day 14. The temperature in the first house was maintained according to the commercial practices, whereas the temperature in the second house dropped to 15 degrees C on day 14 and maintained between 13-15 degrees C until day 42. Total weight gain was decreased, but plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), liver enzymes activities and heterophils/lymphocytes ratio were increased in cold-stressed birds compared to those that grew in normal temperature. Supplementation of curcumin/nanocurcumin in diet improved the weight gain and villus surface area of birds in concomitance to lower their plasma MDA, liver enzymes activities, caecal E. coli population compared to those fed control diet. It is concluded that the addition of 200mg/kg curcumin/nanocurcumin to diet may improve the performance, antioxidant status and jejunal tissue health in broiler chickens.