Effect of <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> leaf meal on growth performance, intestinal mucosa activity, digestive enzymes, absorption capacity, and immunity in broiler chickens

Gut health is multifaceted and largely influenced by the rearing environment diet. The use of phytochemicals rich in phenolics flavonoids can improve digestive chickens lead to better growth performance. aim this study was examine effects dietary Vernonia amygdalina leaf meal (VALM) on performance, enzyme activities, absorption function, organ weights immunity broilers. Two hundred forty, one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups: an unsupplemented control VA-1, VA-3 VA-5 receiving VALM incorporation at concentrations 1, 3 5 g/kg, respectively. Each treatment had six replicates 10 chickens. On d 42, per replicate isolated euthanised. Digesta from jejunal segments (10 cm) collected for analysis enzymes. remaining digesta then washed out with ice-cold phosphate-buffered saline before opened longitudinally collect mucosa scraping. For preparation homogenate, intestinal samples homogenised 154 mmol/l sodium chloride solution centrifuged 4 °C 900 s. To determine immunoglobulins, glutathione D-xylose, supernatant extracted stored -20 °C. Supplementation did not significantly influence relative organs different treatments. However, g/kg caused a significant increase amylase trypsin concentration (P&lt;0.05). Immunoglobulin A secretory immunoglobulin G improved (P&lt;0.05) birds fed VALM. This supported premise that feed gastric status secretion.