Role of Berberis lycium in reducing serum cholesterol in broilers

This study was planned to investigate the role of Berberis lycium in reducing serum cholesterol in broilers. Six experimental rations designated as A, B, C, D, E and F having 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% Berberis lycium were fed to 240 broiler chicks, randomly distributed into 24 replicates, so as to have 4 replicates per group and 10 chicks per replicate. The experiment lasted for 35 days. Average serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were used as criteria of response. Average total serum cholesterol per chick was 129.33, 120.50, 116.50, 113.00, 101.67 and 114.00 mg/dl for group A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Total serum cholesterol showed decreasing trend with the increasing level of Berberis lycium unto 2% (p<0.05). Mean serum triglyceride level per chick was 60.00, 58.17, 58.00, 55.33, 50.17 and 48.50 mg/dl for group A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. Mean serum triglyceride showed decreasing trend with the increasing level of Berberis lycium (p<0.05). Serum triglyceride was significantly lower in group F than other groups. Mean HDL per chick for the six experimental groups A, B, C, D, E and F was 52.08, 53.42, 60.42, 62.25, 62.92 and 54.50 mg/dl respectively. HDL showed increasing trend with the increase in the level of Berberis lycium unto 2%. The average serum LDL per chick was 65.25, 55.45, 44.48, 39.68, 28.72 and 49.80 mg/dl for group A, B, C, D, E and F respectively. LDL also showed decreasing trend with the increase in the level of Berberis lycium unto 2% (p<0.05). It was concluded that Berberis lycium added to feed at the rate of 2.0% can be used in broiler feed for reducing serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL and increasing HDL.