Effects of dietary α-tocopherol acetate, pomegranate peel, and pomegranate peel extract on phenolic content, fatty acid composition, and meat quality of broiler chickens

This study investigated the effect of dietary alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc), pomegranate peel extract (PPE), and pomegranate peel (PP) on phenolic content and breast meat quality of broilers during 11 days of storage with the addition of alpha-Toc, PPE, and PP. Broilers were fed eight dietary treatments, including: control diet, alpha-Toc diet (200 mg/kg), PPE diets (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg), and PP diets (1, 2, and 3 g/kg) during 0-42 days. The extents of lipid oxidation in samples were assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and the 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activities were determined. The feed efficiency was improved significantly in chickens fed diet containing 0.2 g/kg PPE, and the growth performance of chickens was impaired in chickens fed with PP diet. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 were increased in breast muscles of broilers fed alpha-Toc and high levels of PPE diets (P < .05). Total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity in the breast meat were improved significantly when chickens fed diets containing alpha-Toc and PPE (P < .05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 200 and 300 mg/kg PPE may improve the antioxidant potential and quality indices of broilers breast meat. The antioxidant potential of PPE was equal to that of alpha-Toc in refrigerated meat.