TITLE:
Tolerance Study for Standardized Macleaya cordata Extract Added to Chicken Layer Diet
AUTHORS:
Ray A. Matulka, Sophie von Alvensleben, Mauro Morlacchini, Giorgio Fusconi
KEYWORDS:
Macleaya cordata, Chicken Layer, Tolerability, Alkaloids, Residues
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.8 No.1,
January
24,
2018
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to assess the
effects of Sangrovit®, a standardized preparation of Macleaya cordata extract (MCE), on the health status and egg laying
parameters of layer chickens. Layer chickens (N = 360) were randomly divided into four groups (90
birds/treatment, 10 birds/pen) and fed either a standard basal feed (T1) or a
basal diet that was supplemented with 100 mg/kg (T2), 500 mg/kg (T3) or 1000
mg/kg (T4) Sangrovit® (providing 0, 3.7, 18.5, and 37.0 mg MCE/kg feed,
respectively) for 56 consecutive days. Live Weight (LW), Average Daily Feed
Intake (ADFI) and the Feed Conversion Ratios (FCR) were calculated during the
study, and biochemical and hematological endpoints were obtained at the end of
the study (Day 56). Eggs were analyzed for the isoquinoline alkaloids
sanguinarine and chelerythrine. No statistically significant (P > 0.05) differences were found
between control and treatment groups for LW, ADFI and FCR. There was a
significant increase in the % laying in groups T3 and T4 for the study overall,
but no significant differences in egg size during the study. Blood biochemical
analyses showed a near-significant trend for decreased bilirubin in the T2 and
T4 groups, but this was not dose-dependent and not considered
treatment-related. The percent hemoglobin was significantly decreased in the
high dose group, but was not considered treatment-related as it was not a dose-dependent
effect. No treatment-related changes were found after necropsy of the selected
organs. No quantifiable sanguinarine or chelerythrine was found in the eggs
after 56 days administration of the MCE preparation to the hens. The results of
this study show that consumption of a standardized MCE preparation at up to
1000 mg/kg feed in laying hens had no adverse effect on the hen or eggs, and no
residual sanguinarine or chelerythrine was transferred to the eggs.