Effect of a Magnesium‐Enriched Amomum Longiligulare Polysaccharide 1 Complex on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Intestinal Mucosal Cell Counts in Chickens

Amomum longiligulare polysaccharide 1 (ALP1) is a bioactive polysaccharide previously shown to exert immunomodulatory and growth‐promoting effects in poultry. Magnesium is an essential macroelement involved in numerous metabolic processes and animal growth. In this study, a magnesium‐enriched ALP1–Mg(II) complex (ALP1–Mg) was synthesized using a hydrothermal method, and its effects on chickens were evaluated. A total of 70, one‐day‐old chicks were assigned to a control group or a group receiving 500 mg/kg ALP1–Mg for 35 days. Dietary ALP1–Mg significantly increased average daily gain and average daily feed intake ( p < 0.05), while feed conversion ratio was not altered ( p > 0.05). Serum and hepatic antioxidant capacity were improved, as indicated by increased T‐AOC, SOD, CAT, and GSH‐Px activities and decreased MDA levels (p < 0.05). In addition, ALP1–Mg supplementation increased the numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the small intestine, with a significant increase observed in the jejunum, and significantly increased goblet cell numbers in the ileum ( p < 0.05). These findings suggest that ALP1–Mg may serve as a natural magnesium‐enriched polysaccharide feed additive capable of enhancing growth performance, antioxidant status, and intestinal mucosal health in chickens.