ArticleVeterinary medicine and science2026
Dietary Echinacea purpurea Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Alters Cytokine Gene Expression Among Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens at High Altitude.
Article in Veterinary medicine and science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
objectivesThe combination of high-altitude and heat stress promotes oxidative damage and immune dysfunction in broiler chickens. This study investigated the potential of dietary Echinacea purpurea to mitigate these detrimental effects.
methodsIn a 42-day trial, 108 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary regimens: an unsupplemented basal diet (Control), or the basal diet supplemented with 0.25% (E0.25) or 0.75% (E0.75) hydroalcoholic E. purpurea extract. Birds were reared at 2100 m altitude and exposed to chronic heat stress. On Day 42, serum was analysed for nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Hepatic relative telomere length was quantified via qPCR, and the expression of cytokine genes (IL10, IL1β, TNFα and IFNγ) was assessed by RT-qPCR.
resultsDietary E. purpurea at both levels significantly lowered serum NO and MDA concentrations compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Relative telomere length was unaffected by treatment. Gene expression analysis revealed that the E0.75 group had significantly elevated transcripts of IL-10 (900% increase) and IFN-γ (351% increase), while IL-1β and TNF-α remained unchanged. Consequently, the composite pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine ratio [(IFNγ + IL-1β + TNFα)/IL-10] was reduced in both supplemented groups (P < 0.05).
conclusionSupplementation with E. purpurea alleviated systemic oxidative stress and induced a distinct immunomodulatory response, upregulating key cytokines IL-10 and IFN-γ in broilers under dual environmental stress. Telomere length in liver tissue was not preserved under these conditions. These results indicate that E. purpurea is a promising phytogenic feed additive for enhancing broiler resilience in challenging environments.
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