O. D Oloruntola - Animal Science Department, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Nigeria
S. O Ayodele - Agricultural Technology Department, the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
A. O Jimoh - Agricultural Technology Department, the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria
D. A Oloruntola - Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo City, Nigeria
C. O Osowe - Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

The main reason preventing broiler chickens from reaching their genetic potential and hurting their performance in the tropics is heat stress. This study aimed to ascertain how Justicia carnea leaf powder (JLP) supplementation affects broiler chickens’ performance, blood indices, antioxidant status, and gut microflora in tropical environments. A completely randomized method was used to assign ۲۴۰ Cobb ۵۰۰ broiler chicks to the experimental diets (۶ replicates per diet, ۱۰ birds per replication). Diet ۱ included no supplement (negative control), diet ۲ included ۲۰۰ mg/kg vitamin C (positive control), diet ۳ included ۲,۵۰۰ mg/kg JLP, and diet ۴ included ۵,۰۰۰ mg/kg JLP. On day ۴۲, the body weight gain (BWG) of the birds fed on diet ۴ was significantly higher than those on diet ۱. The packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and hemoglobin concentration of the birds fed on diets ۳ and ۴ were significantly higher than those of the control (P<۰.۰۵). The serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and cholesterol were lower in birds fed on diets ۳ and ۴, compared to those on diet ۱ (P<۰.۰۵). The serum heat shock protein ۷۰ (HSP ۷۰) and ۸-hydroxy-۲'-deoxyguanosine (۸-OHdG) were lower in birds fed on diets ۳ and ۴, compared to those on diet ۱ (P<۰.۰۵). The lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) population was higher in birds fed on diets ۳ and ۴, compared to those on diet ۱(P<۰.۰۵). However, the Coliform bacteria population was reduced in birds fed on diets ۳ and ۴, compared to those on diet ۱. The ۲,۵۰۰ and ۵,۰۰۰ mg/kg JLP dietary supplementations enhanced BWG, improved erythrogram indices, and reduced blood AST, ALT, cholesterol, HSP ۷۰, ۸-OHdG, and caeca Coliform population but increased the caeca LAB population.

Antioxidants, Avian species, Feed additives, performance, Phyto-biotics