Effect of cinnamon and peppermint essential oils on blood biochemistry,immunity, gut microbiota, and carcass traits in Japanese quail

ABHISHEK  TIWARI; DEBASHIS  ROY; AJIT  KUMAR; RAM KUMAR  SINGH; MANOJ KUMAR  SINGH; HARSHIT  VERMA; VIKAS  JAISWAL; GULAB  CHANDRA; GAGAN  CHAWLA

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i3.177157

Authors

ABHISHEK TIWARI ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132 001, Haryana, India
DEBASHIS ROY ICAR–National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal 132 001, Haryana, India
AJIT KUMAR Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut 250 110 Uttar Pradesh India
RAM KUMAR SINGH Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut 250 110 Uttar Pradesh India
MANOJ KUMAR SINGH Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut 250 110 Uttar Pradesh India
HARSHIT VERMA Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut 250 110 Uttar Pradesh India
VIKAS JAISWAL Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut 250 110 Uttar Pradesh India
GULAB CHANDRA Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut 250 110 Uttar Pradesh India
GAGAN CHAWLA CAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal-132001, Haryana, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i3.177157

Keywords:

Blood bio-chemicals, Carcass traits, Essential oils, Gut microbiota, Immune response, Japanese quail

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation essential oils of cinnamon and peppermint on blood biochemical parameters, immune response, gut microbiota, and carcass characteristics in Japanese quails. A total of 200 day-old Japanese quail chicks were randomly allotted to five treatment groups: T1 (basal/control diet), T2 (basal diet + cinnamon essential oil @ 500 ppm), T3 (basal diet + peppermint essential oil @ 500 ppm), T4 (basal diet + cinnamon + peppermint essential oils @ 250 ppm each), and T5 (basal diet + cinnamon + peppermint essential oils @ 500 ppm each) for a period of 35 days. Blood biochemical parameters remained within the normal physiological range in all treatment groups. Blood cholesterol concentration was reduced in T4, while creatinine levels were lower in all essential oil-supplemented groups as compared to the control. Liver enzyme activities did not differ significantly among treatments. Serum TIG concentration was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T3 and T4, whereas IgG concentration and lymphocyte count were significantly increased (P<0.05) in T2 and T4 as compared to the control. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher (P<0.05) in T5. Caecal Escherichia coli counts were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in essential oil-supplemented groups. Dressing percentage improved significantly (P<0.05) in T2 and T3 with other carcass traits also showing improvement following essential oil supplementation. Overall, supplementation of cinnamon and peppermint essential oils, either individually or in combination, improved immune response, gut microbial balance, and carcass characteristics without exerting adverse effects on the health status of Japanese quails, indicating their potential as natural feed additives in quail production.

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