Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of Andrographis paniculata on hematological and serum biochemical parameters of broilers as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter with one hundred and fifty commercial, one day-old broiler chicks. The chicks were fed basal diet (T₁), basal diet with 20 mg/kg virginiamycin (T₂), basal diet containing A.paniculata-1.0 g/kg (T₃), basal diet containing A.paniculata-2.0 g/kg (T₄) and basal diet containing A. paniculata - 3.0 g/kg (T₅) and were maintained for six weeks period.The result revealed that the packed cell volume were ranged from 29.66 to 32.83% and hemoglobin levels ranged from 12.16 to 13.06 g/dl which did not vary significantly between treatment groups. The total leukocyte count was significantly higher in T₅ compared to control group with no difference between the levels of A. paniculata. The serum total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in A. paniculata fed group did not vary significantly from virginiamycin and control groups. A. paniculata fed group had significantly higher serum total protein, albumin and globulin than virginiamycin and control diet fed groups. The serum glucose level did not vary between treatment groups than antibiotic and control diet fed groups. Serum aspartate transaminase, alkaline transaminase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly lower in A. paniculata fed groups. It was concluded that feeding A. paniculata improved the immune status and hepatoprotective activity in broilers.

Key words: Andrographis paniculata, hematology, serum bio-chemicals, broilers.