Functional properties of curcumin and its application in broiler production

Functional properties of curcumin and its application in broiler production

Curcumin is a polyphenolic pigment extracted from turmeric. It has antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic functions. Curcumin is safe and non-toxic to humans and animals. It can be used as a broiler additive to improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity and quality of broilers.

1  Functional characteristics

Curcumin and its derivatives have antibacterial effects on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella, etc. Curcumin can inhibit the replication of viruses and the invasion of host cells, and reduce the damage of viruses to the body.

Curcumin can inhibit the generation of free radicals in the animal body, remove the free radicals that have been generated, enhance the activity of various antioxidant enzymes in the body, enhance the body's antioxidant capacity, and reduce oxidative stress. Curcumin can regulate the expression of interleukins, tumor necrosis factors and prostaglandins, thereby inhibiting inflammatory responses.

2  Application of curcumin in broiler production

2.1  Improving broiler growth performance

Adding 150 mg, 200 mg, and 250 mg of curcumin per kilogram of feed significantly increased the body weight, net carcass weight, breast muscle and leg muscle weight of Avian broilers, and the optimal addition amount was 200 mg/kg. Adding 250 mg/kg of curcumin to the feed of Arbor Acres broilers significantly increased the daily weight gain of broilers and reduced the feed-to-weight ratio, and the weight gain of broilers was greater than that of broilers added with antibiotics. Adding 222 mg/kg and 444 mg/kg of curcumin-like substances to feed containing aflatoxin significantly increased the body weight of broilers and reduced the feed-to-weight ratio. Adding 74 mg of curcumin to broiler feed containing 1 mg of aflatoxin per kilogram can reduce the impact of aflatoxin on the growth performance of broilers.

2.2  Improving the antioxidant capacity of broilers

Adding curcumin to feed significantly reduced the malondialdehyde content in the serum of yellow-feathered broilers, and increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and the total antioxidant capacity of the body. Adding curcumin to broiler feed significantly increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in broiler serum, reduced the malondialdehyde content in serum, and significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of broilers. Adding curcumin at different levels to feed significantly increased the scavenging rate of oxygen free radicals in breast muscle tissue, improved the ability of breast muscle to scavenge active free radicals, significantly increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase, and reduced the malondialdehyde content in breast muscle. The above results all indicate that curcumin can improve the antioxidant capacity of broilers.

2.3  Enhance the immunity of broilers

Adding curcumin to feed significantly improves the bursa of Fabricius index and spleen index of broilers, indicating that curcumin can promote the development of immune organs such as bursa of Fabricius and spleen of broilers and enhance the immunity of broilers. Adding 250 mg/kg curcumin to feed significantly improves the thymus index, lymphocyte transformation rate, serum IgG content, and leukocyte phagocytosis of broilers. Adding curcumin to feed promotes the transformation of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of broilers, increases the number of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the intestine of broilers, regulates the balance of intestinal flora, and improves the immunity of broilers.

2.4  Improve muscle quality

Curcumin can promote the metabolism of blood lipids in broilers, reduce fat deposition, and improve the quality of chicken. Adding curcumin solid dispersion to feed can reduce the content of triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in broiler serum, reduce the abdominal fat rate, liver fat rate and subcutaneous fat thickness, and significantly improve the quality of chicken. Adding 250 mg/kg of curcumin to feed can significantly reduce the abdominal fat rate, subcutaneous fat thickness, intermuscular fat width, and serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in broilers, and can also significantly increase serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and free fatty acid levels.

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