Effect of onion (<i>Allium cepa</i> L.) as an antibiotic growth promoter substitution on performance, immune responses and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chicks

doi:10.4236/health.2013.58164

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Vol.5, No.8, 1210-1215 (2013) Health

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/health.2013.58164

Effect of onion (Allium cepa L.) as an antibiotic

growth promoter substitution on performance,

immune responses and serum biochemical

parameters in broiler chicks

Majid Goodarzi1*, Nasir Landy2, Shahram Nanekarani1

1Department of Animal Science, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lorestan, Iran;

*Corresponding Author: [email protected]

2Young Researchers Club of Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan Branch, Isfahan, Iran

Received 6 May 2013; revised 6 June 2013; accepted 1 July 2013

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the

effect of onion (Allium cepa L.) as an antibiotic

growth promoter substitute on growth perfor-

mance, immune responses and serum bio-

chemistry in broilers. A total of 192 one-d-old as

hatched broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighed

and randomly allocated to four treatment groups,

each with 4 replicate pens of 12 chicks. The die-

tary treatments consisted of the basal diet (con-

trol), antibiotic (15 mg Virginiamycin/kg), and

control +10 or 30 g fresh onion bulb/kg diet.

Body weights of broilers were determined at d 1,

21 and 42, feed intake was determined at the

same periods, and feed conversion ratio was

calculated accordingly. At 14th and 21st days

blood samples were taken for measuring anti-

body titers against NDV and at 42nd day for bio-

chemical analysis. At d 42, two birds per repli-

cate were slaughtered for determination of lym-

phoid organ weight s. Dietary supplement ation of

30 g/kg onion increased final body weight of

broilers at 42nd d of age compared to the other

treatments (P < 0.05). Birds fed 30 g onion/kg in

the diet had the highest feed intake than other

treatments at different growth periods (P < 0.05).

Dietary treatments failed to induce any signifi-

cant effect on antibody titers against NDV, al-

though the weight of lymphoid organs was sig-

nificantly (P < 0.05) higher for birds fed diets

supplemented with 30 g/kg Onion. Broilers re-

ceiving 30 g/kg onion had a significantly higher

HDL and lower triglyceride concentrations com-

pared to control groups (P < 0.05). Feeding 30

g/kg onion resulted in a marked reduction in the

concentration of the glucose comp ared to control

groups (P < 0.05). The results suggested that die-

t ary inclusion of 30 g/kg onion can be applied as

alternatives to in-feed antibiotics for broiler diet s.

Keywords: Allium cepa; Onion; Broiler Chickens;

Immune Response; Serum Biochemical Parameters

1. INTRODUCTION

Subtherapeutic feeding of antibiotics has historically

been a practice in some sectors of the commercial broiler

industry to promote growth performance and protect

flock health [1,2]. However, the use of dietary antibiotics

has resulted in controversial problems such as devel-

opment of antibiotic resistant bacteria and drug residue

in the final products [3] which can be harmful to con-

sumers. Thus, the use of antibiotics as a growth promoter

is no longer acceptable and it is forbidden in European

Union countries. As a result new alternatives are being

introduced to livestock producers, among which phyto-

genic and herbal products have been given considerable

attention as possible in-feed antibiotics substitutions. In

recent years, the use of phytogenic compounds has

gained momentum for their potential role as natural al-

ternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in animal nu-

triation [4,5].

The genus Allium includes about 550 species. A few

of these are important as food plants and as drugs in folk

medicine, notably onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Al-

lium sativum L.). Onion is a bulbous plant widely culti-

vated in almost every country of the world with leading

M. Goodarzi et al. / Health 5 (2013) 1210-12 15 1211

production in China, India and United States [6]. Onion

bulbs possess numerous organic sulphur compounds in-

cluding Trans-S-(1-propenyl) cysteine sulfoxide, S-methyl-

cysteine sulfoxide, Spropylcycteine sulfoxides and cycl-

oallicin, flavinoid s, phenolic acids, stero ls including cho-

lesterol, stigma sterol, b-sitosterol, saponins, sugars and a

trace of volatile oil compounds mainly of sulphur com-

pounds [7]. Most of the plant parts contain compounds

with proven antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-

fungal properties and have antihypertensive, hypoglyce-

mic, antithrombotic, antihyperlipidemic, anti inflamma-

tory and antioxidan t activity [8].

Aji et al. [9] observed the beneficial influence of on-

ion bulbs on growth performance of broiler chickens.

Sebastian et al. [10] r eport ed that administr at ion of on ion

extract in rabbits significantly reduced serum, liver and

aorta triglycerides and serum and liver proteins. The aim

of this work was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion

of two levels of fresh onion bulbs on broiler responses

regarding growth, immune responses and serum bioche-

mistry.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Animals and Dietary Treatments

One hundred ninety two, 1-d-old broi ler chickens (mean

initial weight: 3 5.5 ± 1 g) of mixed sex (Ross-308) were

weighed and randomly assigned to each of the 4 treat-

ment groups, each with 4 replicate pens of 12 chicks.

The dietary treatments included the basal diet (control),

control + 15 mg Virginiamycin/kg, or control + 10 or 30

g fresh onions (Allium cepa) bulb/kg diet. Table 1 lists

the basal diet formulated according to the nutrient re-

quirements of broilers provided by National Research

Council [11]. The birds were fed a starter diet from 0 to

21 d and grower diet from 22 to 42 d. All the dietary

treatments were added to the basal diets at the expense of

sand. Chicks were raised on floor pens (120 × 120 × 80

cm) for 6 wk and had free access to feed and water

throughout the entire experimental period. The lighting

program consisted of a period of 23 h light and 1 h of

darkness. The ambient temperature in experimental house

was maintained at 32˚C during the first week and gradu-

ally decreased by 3˚C in the second and third weeks, and

finally fixed at 22˚C thereafter.

2.2. Performance

Body weights of broilers were determined at d 1, 21,

and 42 of age. Feed intake and weight gain were re-

corded in different periods and feed conversion ratio

(FCR) was calculated. Mortality was recorded as it oc-

curred and was used to adj ust the to tal nu mber of birds to

determine the total feed intake per bird and FCR.

Table 1. The ingredient and calculated composition of basal

starter and grower diets.

Item Starter Grower

Ingredient, g/kg

Corn 505.1 524.6

Soybean meal 385 350

Soybean oil 35.8 59

Mono calcium phosphate 14.2 10

CaCO3 17.3 16.7

NaCl 3.1 2.1

NaHco3 2 1.6

Trace mineral premix1 2.5 2.5

Vitamin premix2 2.5 2.5

DL-Methionine 2.5 1

L-Lysine - -

Sand 30 30

Calculated composition

Metabolizable energy (kcal/kg) 2,900 3,100

Crude protein (g/kg) 215 200

Calcium (g/kg) 10 9

Available phosphorus (g/kg) 4.5 3.5

Methionine + cysteine (g/kg) 9 7.2

Lysine (g/kg) 11.8 10.9

1Provided the following per kg of diet: Mg, 56 mg; Fe, 20 mg; Cu, 10 mg;

Zn, 50 mg; Co, 125 mg; I, 0.8 mg. 2Provided the following per kg of diet:

vitamin A, 10,000 IU; vitamin D3, 2000 IU; vitamin E, 5 IU; vitamin K, 2

mg; riboflavin, 4.20 mg; vitamin B12, 0.01 mg; pantothenic acid, 5 mg;

nicotinic acid, 20 mg; folic acid, 0.5 mg; choline, 3 mg.

FCRFeed intakeweight gain



2.3. Immune Parameters

The commercially available oil-adjuvant injectable

emulsion against Newcastle Disease virus (NDV) and

Avian Influenza virus (AIV) were used (H9N2 subtype)

for vaccinating broiler chicks, and they were injected

subcutaneously with 0.2 mL per chick at 9 d of age. At

14 and 21 days of age two birds per replicate were ran-

domly chosen and blood samples were collected from the

brachial vein and centrifuged at 2000 ×g for 15 min to

obtain serum (SIGMA 4 - 15 Lab Centrifuge, Germany).

Antibody titers against NDV were measured using He-

magglutination Inhibition Test according to the method

of Thayer and Beard [12].

At 42 d of age, three birds per replicate were randomly

M. Goodarzi et al. / Health 5 (2013) 1210-12 15

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chosen, based on the average weight of the group and

slaughtered through cutting carotid arteries and partial

slicing of the neck by a manual neck cutter; bursa and

spleen were collected, weighed and calculated as a per-

centage of live body wei g ht .

2.4. Serum Biochemistry

After 12 h of fasting, blood samples were collected in

non-heparinised tubes at day 42 of age from 8 birds in

each treatment by puncturing the brachial vein and the

blood was centrifuged at 2000 ×g for 15 min to obtain

serum (SIGMA 4 - 15 Lab Centrifuge, Germany). Indi-

vidual serum samples were analyzed for glucose, total

cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-

density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride

(Pars-Azm oo n C o., Tehran).

2.5. Statistical Analysis

The obtained data were subjected to analysis of vari-

ance procedures appropriate for a completely randomized

design using the General Linear Model procedures of

SAS Institute (2008). Means were compared using Dun-

can multiple test. Statements of statistical significance

are based on P < 0.05.

3. RESULTS

3.1. Performance Parameters

The impact of dietary treatments on growth perform-

ance indices from 1 to 42 day of age is presented in Ta-

ble 2. At 21 d of age BW of chicks did not differ (P >

0.05) between the dietary treatments, although BW of

broiler supplemented with 30 g onion/kg was higher than

other groups. At the end of the trial (d 42), birds supple-

mented with the 30 g onion/kg had a greater BW com-

pared with other groups (P < 0.05). The average daily

feed intake (from d 1 to 21) was increased (P < 0.05) for

bird supplemented with 30 g onion/ kg of diet. The av-

erage daily feed intake (ADFI) during grower and the

entire experimental period was higher for broilers sup-

plemented with 30 g onion/kg compared with control

birds and birds supplemented with antibiotic (P < 0.05).

Broilers receiving 10 or 30 g onion/ kg had a lower feed

conversion ratio (FCR) compared to broilers receiving

antibiotic during the starter period (P < 0.05), but FCR of

broilers in other periods was not affected. No differences

because of treatment effects were observed on mortality.

3.2. Immunity

The effects of treatments on immune related parame-

ters are shown in Tables 3 and 4. The additives used in

the current study failed to induce any significant impact

on antibody titers against NDV at 14 and 21 days of age

(P > 0.05). The weight of lymphoid organs was signed (P

< 0.05) higher for birds fed diets supplemented with 30

g/kg Onion.

3.3. Serum Biochemistry

Table 5 summarizes the impact of treatments on serum

constituents at day 42 of age. Treatments did not induce

any significant effect on the serum concentration of total

cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. Broilers receiving 30

Table 2. Effect of experimental diets on performance indices of broilers at different ages.

Performance parameters Dietary treatments

Control Virginiamycin 10 g/kg Onion 30 g/kg Onion SEM1

Daily Feed Intake (g per bird/day)

0 - 21 d 31.4ab 31.4ab 29.4b 32.6a 0.33

21 - 42 d 122.5b 124.5b 128.9ab 133.5a 3.29

0 - 42 d 77.0b 78.0b 79.2ab 83.0a 1.96

Feed Conversation Ratio (g/g)

0 - 21 d 1.53ab 1.56a 1.51b 1.51b 0.005

21 - 42 d 1.87 1.89 1.92 1.89 0.014

0 - 42 d 1.79 1.81 1.83 1.81 1.010

Body Weight (g)

21d 465.8 463.8 447.1 477.5 16.79

42 d 1838.3b 1845.2b 1859.2b 1955.1a 14.84

Values in the same row not sharing a common superscript differ significantly (P < 0.05). 1Standard error of mean.

M. Goodarzi et al. / Health 5 (2013) 1210-12 15 1213

Table 3. Effect of experimental diet s on lymphoid organs at 42nd day.

Dietary treatments

Lymphoid organs Control Antibiotic 10 g/kg Onion 30 g/kg Onion SEM1

Bursaa 0.137d 0.165b 0.149cd 0.190a 0.010

Spleena 0.111b 0.139ab 0.138ab 0.148a 0.005

Values in the same row not sharing a common superscript differ significantly (P < 0.05). aPercentage of live body weight. 1Standard error of mean.

Table 4. Effect of experimental die ts on antibod y titers against Newcastle Disease Virus at 14th and 21st days.

Dietary treatments

Antibody titers (log) Control Antibiotic 10 g/kg Onion 30 g/kg Onion SEM1

14 days 0.619 0.650 0.643 0.650 0.016

21 days 0.739 0.775 0.775 0.775 0.019

1Standard error of mean.

Table 5. Effect of experimental diets on serum biochemical parameters of broilers at day 42.

Dietary treatments

Serum biochemistry Control Antibiotic 10 g/kg Onion 30 g/kg Onion SEM1

Triglyceridea 120.67a 111.25ab 104.25ab 95.75b 7.59

Total cholesterola 146.29 153.14 130.60 134.00 11.83

LDL-cholesterola 36.75 32.75 30.50 41.75 6.77

HDL-cholesterola 77.75b 94.25a 86.25ab 88.75a 2.89

Glucosea 93.75a 81.75ab 75.00ab 59.00b 7.37

Values in the same row not sharing a common superscript differ significantly (P < 0.05). 1Standard error of mean. a(mg/100 mL).

g/kg onion had a significantly higher HDL and lower

triglyceride concentrations compared to control groups

(P < 0.05). Feeding 30 g/kg onion resulted in a marked

reduction in the concentration of the glucose compared

to control groups (P < 0.05).

4. DISCUSSION

4.1. Performance

Dietary supplementation of 30 g/kg onion increased

body weight and feed intake of broilers at different

growth periods. Also, feeding 30 g/kg onion resulted in a

marked reduction in the concentration of the glucose.

Onion containing sulfur organic compounds including

S-Methylcysteine sulfoxide (SMCS) and S-allylcysteine

suiloxide (SACS) is related to decreasing of blood lipid,

liver protein and glucose. Hypoglycemia stimulates a

nerve center for intake whereas hyperglycemia stimu-

lates the center for satiety. Shurlock and Forbes [13] ob-

served reductions in feed intake after they infused glu-

cose into the hepatic portal vein of fasted chickens at

physiological rates, whereas no effect was observed

when glucose was infused into the jugular vein. Onion

stimulated growth by increasing the inflow of glucose

into tissues, thyroid like activity. The results of the pre-

sent experiment are consistent with Al-homidan [14].

Similar to our results Aji et al. [9] reported an enhance-

ment in BW, FCR and ADFI of broilers offered diets

containing fresh onion bulbs in comparison with broilers

fed basal diet. In this trial the positive impact of the on-

ion on the feed utilization was ob served at starter period,

but the improved FCR obtained in bro ilers supplemented

with 30 g onion/kg was not reflected at grower period

probably due to the facts that older birds’ nutrient re-

quirements decrease with age and also they have a better

developed digestive tracts and organs [4].

4.2. Immunity

With respect to a higher weight of lymphoid organs

recorded in chicks fed onion diets, it is concluded that

the active components of onion which have antibacterial,

antiviral, antifungal, anti inflammatory and antioxidant

activities [8] induce positive effects on these organs.

These results are in agreement with those obtained by

M. Goodarzi et al. / Health 5 (2013) 1210-12 15

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Ibrahiem et al. [15] who reported that bursa weights

were magnified by feeding onion to broiler muscovy

ducks. Onions have a mode of action which is similar to

antibiotics. Yamamoto and Glick [16] reported that the

synthesis of immunoglobulins was higher in chicken

with larger Bursa. Dafwang et al. [17] reported that the

effects of onion and garlic on immunoglobulins were si-

milar to antibiotics. But in the present trial that antibody

titers measured against NDV, neither positive nor nega-

tive effect was affected. Since antimicrobial agents start-

ed to be used as growth promoters, researchers [18,19]

working with broilers and swine respectively understood

that the presence of an important health challenge in the

field was essential to reveal the significant effects of

these products. This was while the current trial was con-

ducted in optimum cond itions and no external challeng es

or stresses were impelled to the broilers.

4.3. Serum Biochemistry

Broilers receiving 30 g/kg onion had a significantly

higher HDL and lower triglyceride concentrations com-

pared to control groups. Suresh and Srinivasan [20]

found that 3% onion powder reduced blood lipids, lipid

peroxides and cholesterol. Al-homidan [14] and Sebas-

tian et al. [10] also observed the reduced serum choles-

terol in their experiments by using of onion. In contrast

to the foreign experiments, Sklan et al. [21] did not

observe any effect of onion on hepatic cholesterol. The

effects of onion have been ascribed to its sulfur contain-

ing principles wh ich oxidize thiol compound s either pre-

sent free or combined with a protein and NADPH which

are necessary for lipid synthesis [10].

In conclusion, the results suggested that the dietary

inclusion of 30 g/kg onion can be applied as an alter-

native to in-feed antibio tics for broiler diets.

5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported by the Islamic Azad University, Borujerd

Branch, Lorestan, Iran.

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Supplement

FCR = Feed conversion ratio;

NDV = Newcastle Disease virus;

AIV = Avian Influenza virus;

HDL = High-density lipoprotein;

LDL = Low-density lipoprotein;

BW = Body Weight;

ADFI = Average daily feed intake;

NADPH = Nicotinamide adenine dinucl eotide phosphate;

SEM = Standard error of mean.