Effect of dietary supplementation with purslane seed oil on growth performance, blood parameters, gut microbiota, antioxidant capacity and expression of some growth-related genes of the broiler chicks

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> A total of 350 one-day-old broiler chickens were used in a 35-day trial to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with pure purslane seed oil ( <italic>Portulaca oleracea</italic> L.) (PSO) and its nanoemulsion form (NPSO) at different levels on growth performance, antioxidant status, gut microbiota, hematology, immune organ, and growth-related gene expression. Birds were randomly distributed into seven treatments (five replicates of ten birds each): a normal control group fed a basal diet (NC), and 200 PSO (200), 400 PSO (400), or 600 PSO (600) mg/kg, and NPSO-supplemented groups receiving 200 NPSO (200N), 400 NPSO (400N), or 600 NPSO (600N) mg/kg. Compared with NC, all supplemented groups showed significantly higher body weight gain, while feed intake increased numerically. Feed conversion ratio improved in all groups except the 200 mg/kg PSO group. Immune organ weights were slightly increased, and hematological parameters remained largely unchanged. Monocyte percentage increased in both 400N and 600N groups. Nanoemulsion supplementation notably reduced <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> counts and increased <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> <italic>sp</italic> . populations, particularly at higher doses. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) improved in 600 and 600N groups, with elevated glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Gene expression analysis showed upregulation of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and insulin like <bold/> growth factor-1 (IGF-1), especially in higher concentrations and the 600N group. Overall, purslane seed oil, particularly in nanoemulsion form, enhanced growth performance, antioxidant defense, beneficial gut microbiota, and growth-related gene expression, indicating its potential as a natural functional feed additive for broiler production.