A Thangavel

K V S N Raju

L S S Vara

Prasad Reddy

V Leela

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Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 43 (5) 354 - 358, September - October 2014 354
EFFECT  OF  DIETARY  SUPPLEMENTATION  OF  TULASI  (OCIMUM
SANCTUM)  AND  SELENIUM  ON  ALANINE  TRANSAMINASE  (ALT)  AND
ASPARTATE  TRANSAMINASE  (AST)  LEVELS  IN  BROILERS
L.S.S. Vara Prasad Reddy*, V. Leela,  A. Thangavel   and  K.V.S.N. Raju
Dept. of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Science,
Proddatur-516360. Andhra Pradesh
Received : 17.03.2014       Accepted  : 18.08.2014
ABSTRACT
The research was carried out to study the effects of dietary
supplementation of Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) and selenium on ALT and AST
enzyme levels in broiler chicken. A total of forty-two broiler chicks of day-
old divided into six groups of seven each were used for this study. Ocimum
sanctum leaf powder (0.25% and 0.5%), organic selenium (0.3 ppm) and their
combinations were added to the basal diet. Body weight and feed consumption
were recorded at weekly intervals. Blood samples were taken at the end of 6th
week for enzymological assay from each treatment. The enzymes assayed
were alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Dietary
supplementation of Ocimum sanctum leaf powder at 0.25%, 0.5% levels and
its combination (0.5% level) with selenium (0.3 ppm) reduced the levels of
ALT and AST significantly (P<0.05). It was concluded that Tulasi (Ocimum
sanctum) has hepato-protective properties.
*    Corresponding author Email  : shivavet@gmail.com
Key Words :  ALT, AST, Ocimum sanctum, selenium, broiler chicken.
INTRODUCTION
The poultry industry is one of the most
dynamic Indian agribusiness trade. In modern
poultry production, the rapid growth rate in
broilers imposes severe stress on birds, which
leads to poor performance and high mortality
among chicken. Oxidative stress is the major
cause of reduction in growth rate in broilers and
increases incidence of infectious and metabolic
diseases in poultry. Several types of reactive
species are generated in the body as a result of
metabolic reactions in the form of free radicals
or non-radicals. These species may be either
oxygen derived or nitrogen derived and called
as pro-oxidants. They attack macromolecules
including protein, DNA and lipid etc., causing
cellular / tissue damage (Kurien and Scofield,
2006).  Oxidative stress causes hepatic cell
damage which results in increased circulatory
levels of ALT and AST. Recently, there is an
increase demand for using natural feed
Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 43 (5) 354 - 358, September - October 2014355
additives like herbs and edible plants to
overcome the adverse effect of oxidative stress
on broiler performance. The ubiquitous herb,
Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) is a fairly economic
therapeutic plant for several pathological
conditions as well as an anti-stress agent
(Bhargava and Singh, 1981). Ocimum sanctum
is a well known antioxidant which can
effectively reduce oxidative stress caused by
rapid growth rate in broilers (Varaprasad Reddy
et al., 2009). To lessen the adverse effects of
the synthetic feed additives on bird as well as
on consumer’s health; many of the herbal
growth stimulators now a days are being used
as an alternative feed additives in the poultry
ration (Srivastava et al. 2012). Organic
selenium is a natural seleno-aminoacid
(selenomethionine) which possesses
antioxidant properties and improves resistance
against oxidative stress (Mahmoud and Edens,
2003). Dietary supplementation of Ocimum
sanctum and its combination with selenium
plays a major role in the protection of cell and
tissue structure against super oxide radicals and
other reactive oxygen species damage
(Varaprasad Reddy et al. 2007).
The present experiment was designed
to assess the effects of various levels of Tulasi
(Ocimum Sanctum), selenium and their
different combinations as supplement to
broilers diet on alanine transaminase (ALT)
also called serum glutamic pyruvic
transaminase (SGPT) and aspartate
transaminase (AST) also called serum glutamic
oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels in
broilers.
MATERIALS  AND METHODS
A total of 42 day-old Cobb broiler chicks   were
randomly divided into six groups comprising
of seven birds in each group with the following
dietary regimens.
Group I (control) supplemented with standard
diet
Group II supplemented with standard diet +
Ocimum sanctum @ 0.25%
Group III supplemented with standard diet +
Ocimum sanctum @ 0.5%
Group IV supplemented with standard diet +
Organic selenium @ 0.3 ppm
Group V supplemented with standard diet+
Ocimum sanctum@ 0.25% and 0.3 ppm
organic selenium
Group VI supplemented with standard diet+
Ocimum sanctum@ 0.5% and 0.3 ppm organic
selenium
The chicks were wing banded and
weighed individually. The birds were reared
in cages under standard managemental
practices from day-old to six weeks of age.
Freshly collected, shade dried Ocimum
sanctum leaf powder and organic selenium
were supplemented as above to the standard
broiler diet. The broiler starter and finisher diets
were fed ad libitum to the birds.
Blood samples were collected at the
end of 6th week for estimation of alanine
transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase
(AST). The levels of ALT and AST were
measured by IFCC (International Federation of
Clinical Chemistry) method as described in
(Burits and Ashwood, 1996). Statistical
analysis analysis of the data was analyzed by
one way ANOVA as per Snedecor and Cochran
(1989).
Effect of dietary supplementation of tulasi and seleniu, on alanine transaminase
Vara Prasad Reddy et al.
Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 43 (5) 354 - 358, September - October 2014 356
RESULTS  AND DISCUSSION
The mean serum ALT and AST values
of broilers at 6th week of age as influenced by
dietary supplementation of Ocimum sanctum
and selenium is presented in Table.1. In the
present study, dietary supplementation of
Ocimum sanctum at 0.25% level (Group II) and
at 0.5% level (Group III) and Ocimum sanctum
at 0.5% level and its combination with selenium
at 0.3ppm (Group VI) significantly (P<0.05)
decreased serum ALT levels. Ocimum sanctum
at 0.25% level (Group II), at 0.5% level (Group
III) and Ocimum sanctum at 0.5% level with a
combination of selenium at 0.3ppm (Group VI)
significantly decreased serum AST levels.
Ocimum sanctum alone at 0.25% level (Group
II) and at 0.5% level (Group III) found to be
more effective in reducing ALT and AST levels
when compared to selenium alone at 0.3ppm
(Group IV). However, Ocimum sanctum at
0.5% level and selenium at 0.3ppm
combination (Group VI) were found to possess
a superior effect on ALT levels. Ocimum
sanctum at 0.5% level (Group III) was found
to possess a superior effect on serum AST
levels.
The results of our study are in
accordance with the earlier reports of Patankar
et al. (2011), who observed that AST values
were significantly (P<0.05) lower with dietary
supplementation of Ocimum sanctum leaf
powder at 0.5% levels in broilers. Atul Prakash
et al., (2009) observed a significant decrease
in the levels of liver enzymes (ALT & ALP) in
broilers with dietary supplementation of
Ocimum sanctum leaf powder. Sapcota and
Upadhyaya (2009) also reported that
supplementation of Ocimum sanctum leaf
powder in feed containing aflatoxins had
significantly reduced ALT and AST enzyme
activities in broilers. Similarly, Gupta and
Charan (2007) also reported a lower AST
(SGOT) levels in serum of broilers fed with
Ocimum sanctum supplementation. On
contrary, Tirupathi Reddy et al., (2012)
observed no significant difference in levels of
ALT & AST in broilers by dietary
supplementation of Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum)
at 0.25%, 0.5% and its combination with Amla
and Turmeric.
In the present study, serum ALT levels
decreased significantly (P<0.05) in broilers
supplemented with selenium at 0.3ppm (Group
IV) and in combination with Ocimum sanctum
at 0.25% level (Group V), at 0.5% level (Group
VI) when compared with control (Group I).
Similar findings were observed by Ismail Seven
et al., (2009) who observed significant
(P<0.05) decrease in ALT levels with dietary
supplementation of selenium at 0.2ppm, when
compared with control group of broilers.
The results obtained in the present
study revealed that the dietary supplementation
of Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) alone at 0.25%
and 0.5% levels were found to be more
effective in reducing ALT and AST levels when
compared to selenium alone at 0.3ppm. The
values showing normal satisfactory liver
function from dietary supplementation of
Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) as well as organic
selenium as compared to control group.   These
results,  clearly indicated that Tulasi (Ocimum
sanctum) has hepato-protective properties.
Effect of dietary supplementation of tulasi and seleniu, on alanine transaminase
Ind. J. Vet. & Anim. Sci. Res., 43 (5) 354 - 358, September - October 2014357
Means bearing different superscripts in a column differ significantly (P<0.05).
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Table – 1
Effects of Ocimum sanctum, selenium and their combinations on
ALT and AST values in broilers
Groups ALT (IU/L) lAST (IU/L)
I 8.00f 134.53f
II 5.50c 115.56b
III 5.17b 106.10a
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EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF TULASI (OCIMUM SANCTUM) AND SELENIUM ON ALANINE TRANSAMINASE (ALT) AND ASPARTATE TRANSAMINASE (AST) LEVELS IN BROILERS

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EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF TULASI (OCIMUM SANCTUM) AND SELENIUM ON ALANINE TRANSAMINASE (ALT) AND ASPARTATE TRANSAMINASE (AST) LEVELS IN BROILERS

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