Allium polyrhizum Turcz. flavonoid extract improved the growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemical indices, and immune organ indices of broilers

This study investigated the effects of Allium polyrhizum Turcz. ex Regel flavonoid extract (APTF) on the growth performance, meat quality, serum biochemistry, and immune function of Arbor Acres broilers. A total of 120 one-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments: a basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.05 %, 0.1 %, or 0.2 % APTF for a 42-day feeding trial, following a completely randomized design. The results demonstrated that APTF supplementation significantly improved growth performance by enhancing feed efficiency and average daily gain (P < 0.05) while reducing abdominal fat deposition (P < 0.05). The 0.2 % APTF supplementation level consistently yielded the most pronounced beneficial effects across most parameters measured. Meat quality parameters, including water-holding capacity, tenderness, and color stability, were markedly improved (P < 0.05), likely due to enhanced antioxidant capacity as evidenced by increased serum glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase activities (P < 0.05). APTF also exhibited hepatoprotective effects, as indicated by reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.05), and immunomodulatory properties, as shown by increased immune organ indices and immunoglobulin levels (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that APTF can serve as a multifunctional natural feed additive to enhance productivity and product quality of broiler production systems.