The effects of a composition of ginseng polysaccharides and Houttuynia cordata essential oil on the growth performance, slaughter performance, serum biochemistry and intestinal health of Arbor Acres broilers

Introduction This study compared the efficacy of a Panax ginseng polysaccharide (GPS) and Houttuynia cordata essential oil (HCEO) complex with antibiotics in Arbor Acres broilers. Methods Three hundred 1-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to five groups: a blank control group (C), an antibiotic group (A), and three groups administered the GPS-HCEO complex via drinking water at 0.1 (M1), 0.3 (M2), or 0.6 mL/L (M3). Results Compared with Group C, FCR was significantly decreased in Groups M1, M2, and M3 during the early phase ( P < 0.05). During the late phase and the overall experimental period, FCR was significantly lower in Groups A, M1, and M3 than in Group C ( P < 0.05). For slaughter performance, the four treatment groups showed no significant differences in slaughter rate, semi-eviscerated rate, eviscerated rate, breast muscle rate, leg muscle rate, lean meat rate, or wing rate compared with Group C ( P > 0.05), whereas Group A had a significantly lower abdominal fat rate than Group C and the three GPS-HCEO groups ( P < 0.05). Serum analysis showed that IgG, IgM, IgA, IL-1, and IL-10 levels remained unchanged compared with Group C ( P > 0.05), whereas serum triglyceride levels were increased in all treatment groups ( P < 0.05). Antibiotic supplementation impaired duodenal morphology and reduced cecal microbial diversity, as reflected by the Simpson index, as well as the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Tenericutes . Supplementation with 0.6 mL/L GPS-HCEO complex achieved a feed conversion efficiency comparable to that of antibiotics. Unlike antibiotics, the GPS-HCEO complex improved jejunal and ileal morphology, as indicated by increased VH and V/C ratio, without disrupting the core microbial structure. It also promoted the enrichment of the beneficial genera Aerococcus and Jeotgalicoccus in the cecum. Conclusions These findings suggest that the GPS-HCEO complex has potential as a feed additive for reducing antibiotic use in broiler production.