Evaluation of dietary duzhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliver) and castor aralia (Kalopanax pictus Nakai) leaf powder on growth performance, serum cholesterol, and meat quality in broilers

The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of duzhong and castor aralia leaf powder on growth performance and meat quality of broilers for 35 days. A total of 300 broilers (n = 60 birds/treatment) were allocated for 5 treatments (0%, 0.5%, and 1% duzhong or 0.5% and 1% castor aralia). No significant differences were found in the growth performance and proximate compositions for all the treatments. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased linearly, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride decreased linearly, with different levels of duzhong and castor aralia; however, total cholesterol was not affected. Duzhong and castor aralia resulted in lower pH and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and higher total phenol and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activity compared to controls. The meat color was not changed by duzhong and castor aralia treatments. Treatments with 1% duzhong and 1% castor aralia could be used as viable sources of antioxidants to reduce serum cholesterol and improve physicochemical properties.