Antioxidant capacities of Artemisia annua L. leaves and enzymatically treated Artemisia annua L. in vitro and in broilers

The antioxidant capacities of Artemisia annua L. leaves (AL) and enzymatically treated A. annua L. (EA) were investigated both in vitro and in broilers in the current study. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride methods, respectively. Antioxidant capacities were evaluated by scavenging activities against 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) test and reducing power (RP) test. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents, ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, FRAP and RP of AL were higher (P < 0.05) than EA. The effects of AL and EA on growth performance and antioxidant capacity of broilers were investigated by using 192 one-d-old broilers. Birds were randomly allotted into three groups with eight replicates of eight birds each, and received a basal diet and basal diet supplemented with either 5 g/kg AL or 1 g/kg EA until 42 d of age, respectively. Compared to control, broilers in AL group had lower (P < 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) in 1–21 d. EA increased (P < 0.05) ADG in 1–21 d and 1–42 d compared to control and AL groups. Both AL and EA increased (P < 0.05) activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in serum at 42 d and in liver at 21 d, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in liver at 42 d, and catalase (CAT) in serum and liver at 42 d, and decreased (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in liver at 21 d. But only EA increased (P < 0.05) activities of T-SOD in serum at 21 d and in liver at 42 d, GSH-Px in serum at 21 d and 42 d and in liver at 21 d, and reduced (P < 0.05) MDA concentration in serum at 21 d and 42 d and in liver at 42 d. In conclusion, EA would be more effective than AL in improving growth performance and antioxidant capacity in broilers.