Effect of Thonningia sanguinea (Balanophoraceae) on zootechnical and biochemical parameters of broiler chickens

The present study was conducted to evaluate growth performance, selected biochemical serum parameters adding in broiler chickens provide with drinking water containing an aqueous extract of Thonningia sanguinea (THOS). Two hundred 1-days-old broiler chickens were acclimated for two weeks. Then they were randomly divided into two equal groups of 100 chickens. In experimental group, aqueous extracts of T. sanguinea were added to water drinkers (10 g.L-1 water) from day 15 to day 22. Through the experience, body weight, feed consumption, and number of dead birds were recorded once a week. At 15, 22, 29, 36 and 45 days of rearing, 20 birds were randomly selected in each group for serum biochemical profile analysis involving, alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), creatin phospoho-kinase (CPK) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The analyses reveal that the supplementing of aqueous extract of THOS contributed to increase in body weight (p<0.05), decrease consumption index and had a positive effect on boilers survival. In addition, none of biochemical parameters were statistically different among the treatment. These findings, indicate that drinking water supplementation at 10 g.L-1 of aqueous extract of THOS can be used as growth promoters in boiler water, and research to elucidate the mechanism for potentially enhanced growth in boilers is required.