Effect of polysaccharide gel extracted from Durio zibethinus rind on immune responses, bacteria counts and cholesterol quantities in chickens

Abstract

Polysaccharide gel (PG) from the rind of durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is a soluble powder that gives good results as an excipient in pharmacological and food preparation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PG as a feed-supplement diet on body weight gain, immune stimulation, total bacteria and Salmonella in feces, and cholesterol levels in broilers. Eighty, one-day-old broiler chicks were divided into 4 groups. Three experimental groups were fed a commercial diet coated with PG 1, 2 and 3 g/100 g, respectively, and the control group was fed a commercial diet without PG. The study was performed for 42 days. Chicken weight gain in the treatment and control groups was not significantly different. At six weeks old, the hemagglutination inhibition and ELISA antibody titers against Newcastle disease (ND) virus and infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus, respectively, were significantly different (p < 0.05). The chickens fed commercial feed with 3 g/100 g PG revealed the highest antibody titers against the ND and IBD. There was no significant difference in heterophil: lymphocyte ratio between the treatment groups and the control group. The total bacteria count in chicken feces was significantly reduced, 81-97%, in the experimental groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, Salmonella suspected colonies were significantly reduced in the experimental groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and no Salmonella suspected colonies were detected in the experimental groups. The cholesterol levels in the plasma of the chickens in the treatment groups were lower than those of the control group. Furthermore, the cholesterol content of the muscles of the broilers fed on the diet with 3 g/100 g PG was significantly lower than those of the chickens fed on the diet without PG (p < 0.05). Therefore, polysaccharide gel in the diet benefited health promotion in broiler chickens as an antibacterial activity, immunostimulant and in cholesterol reduction.