Effect of Supplemental Essential Oils Blend on Broiler Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Profile, and Lipid Quality

Abstract

This investigation evaluates the impact of the EOB on chicken growth performance, meat quality, and lipid metabolism. Two hundred and fifty-six one-day-old, white-feathered broilers were randomly allocated to four groups. Each group was subdivided into eight replicates, each with eight unsexed chicks, including the control group (CON), EOB₁₅₀, EOB₂₅₀, and EOB₃₅₀, with 0, 150, 250, and 350 mg/L of the EOB added to the drinking water, respectively. The expression levels of genes associated with antioxidants and lipid metabolism were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Additionally, the FA profile of the breast muscle was determined using gas chromatography. The data displayed that those birds in the EOB₂₅₀ group had a higher breast muscle index compared to the CON group. The breast meat in the EOB groups showed that there is increased yellowness, water holding capacity (WHC), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), while cooking losses, drip losses, and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were reduced compared to the CON. The application of supplements for the EOB₂₅₀ and EOB₃₅₀ groups increased antioxidant indices as well as the expression of antioxidant-related genes in the liver and muscles. However, these groups decreased the concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) in serum and liver compared to the EOB₁₅₀ and CON groups. These EOB groups downregulated expression of some genes linked to liver FA synthesis and elevated the expressions of lipid β-oxidation-related genes compared to the CON. It can be concluded that the supplementation with 250 mg/L of the EOB has the potential as an alternative water additive in the broiler industry.

Keywords: essential oils; gene expression; growth performance; lipid metabolism; meat quality.

Figure 1

Effects of essential oils blend on biochemical indices in the serum and liver of broilers. Results are expressed as means ± standard error of the mean (SEM). ^a–b Mean values above the column carrying various letters vary statistically (p < 0.05). (A1–A4) the serum biochemical indices and (B1–B4) the liver biochemical indices TG: triglyceride; TC: total cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CON = control drinking water (without EOB); EOB₁₅₀ = DW + 150 mg/L EOB; EOB₂₅₀ = DW + 250 mg/L EOB; EOB₃₅₀ = DW + 350 mg/L EOB.

Figure 2

Effects of essential oils blend on meat texture analysis of chicken breast muscle. Results are expressed as means ± standard error of the mean (SEM). ^a,b Mean values above the column carrying various letters vary statistically (p < 0.05). (A) Hardness, (B) Springiness, (C) Resilience, (D) Cohesiveness, (E) Gumminess, And (F) Chewiness CON = control drinking water (without EOB); EOB₁₅₀ = DW + 150 mg/L EOB; EOB₂₅₀ = DW + 250 mg/L EOB; EOB₃₅₀ = DW + 350 mg/L EOB.

Figure 3

Effects of essential oils blend on the antioxidant capacity of broilers. Results are expressed as means ± standard error of the mean (SEM). ^a,b Mean values above the column carrying various letters vary statistically (p < 0.05). (A1–A5) Effect of the EOB on serum antioxidant enzyme activities. (B1–B5) Effect of the EOB on liver antioxidant enzyme activities. (C1–C5) Effect of the EOB on antioxidant enzyme activities. Abbreviations: T-AOC: total antioxidant capacity; CAT: catalase; T-SOD: total superoxide dismutase; GSH-Px: glutathione peroxidase; MDA: malondialdehyde. CON = control drinking water (without EOB); EOB₁₅₀ = DW + 150 mg/L EOB; EOB₂₅₀ = DW + 250 mg/L EOB; EOB₃₅₀ = DW + 350 mg/L EOB.

Figure 4

The mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes in the liver and breast muscle of the broilers. Results are expressed as means ± standard error of the mean (SEM). ^a,b Mean values above column carrying various letters vary statistically (p < 0.05). (A) liver antioxidant-related genes and (B) breast antioxidant-related genes. CON = control drinking water (without EOB); EOB₁₅₀ = DW + 150 mg/L EOB; EOB₂₅₀ = DW + 250 mg/L EOB; EOB₃₅₀ = DW + 350 mg/L EOB.

Figure 5

The effect of essential oils blend on the mRNA expression levels of liver lipid metabolism-related genes in broilers. Results are expressed as means ± standard error of the mean (SEM). ^a,b Mean values above the column carrying various letters vary statistically (p < 0.05). (A) fatty acid synthesis and (B) fatty acid for catabolism and transporter. CON = control drinking water (without EOB); EOB₁₅₀ = DW + 150 mg/L EOB; EOB₂₅₀ = DW + 250 mg/L EOB; EOB₃₅₀ = DW + 350 mg/L EOB.