Impacts of Macleaya cordata on Productive Performance, Expression of Growth-Related Genes, Hematological, and Biochemical Parameters in Turkey

Abstract

<i>Macleaya cordata (M. cordata)</i> is a herbal plant that has abundant amounts of sanguinarine, which has many biomedical properties. The effects of <i>M. cordata</i> dietary supplementation on the productive performance, some blood constituents, and growth-related genes' expression were evaluated in turkey. <i>M. cordata</i> extract was dietary supplemented to turkey at levels of 25, 50, and 100 ppm and a control group. Growth performance measurements (FBW, ADG, and FCR) and production efficiency factor for turkey (BPEF) were similar (<i>p</i> > 0.05) in all supplemented groups. <i>M. cordata</i> has no adverse effects (<i>p</i> > 0.05) on the birds' health regarding hematological (Hb, RBCs, WBCs, and PCV) and blood biochemical indices evaluating liver function, kidney function, and lipid profile. Moreover, the mRNA expression of growth-related genes, such as growth hormone receptor (GHR), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), cyclooxygenase 3 (COX-3), adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT), and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP-3) were upregulated (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in <i>M. cordata</i> treatments with the highest value for SG50 compared with the control group. We concluded that exogenous <i>M. cordata</i> dietary supplementation upregulated the expression of growth-related genes in turkey at a level of 50 ppm without adverse effects on their health status regarding hematological and biochemical indices.