Effect of sage extract (Salvia officinalis) on growth performance, blood parameters, oxidative stress and DNA damage in partridges

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of different doses of sage extract on the growth and blood parameters, oxidative stress and DNA damage in partridges. In total, 252 day-old partridges (Alectoris chukar) were used. The birds were divided into four groups: 0.1% flavomycin was included in the diet of the control group (I) while 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mL sage extract/kg were included in the diets of treatment groups II, III and IV, respectively. At the end of the experiment no significant differences between treatments were observed in live weight, live weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight and survival rate. In addition, blood analyses indicated that the differences between groups in the amounts of plasma cholesterol, triglyceride high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and alkaline phosphates (ALP) were not significantly different. Furthermore, treatments did not affect total sulphydryl (SH) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) concentrations, total antioxidant response or the total oxidant status (TOS). However, sage extract significantly decreased DNA damage in a linear, dose-dependent manner whilst the antibiotic, flavomycin, elevated the oxidative stress index (OSI) and resulted in DNA damage. It was concluded that supplementing sage extract in the partridge diet at the doses studied does not lead to a negative effect on the growth performance of these birds.

Keywords: Salvia officinalis, Alectoris chukar, growth performance, blood parameters, DNA damage

South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 38 (2) 2008: pp. 145-152