Dietary Caesalpinia sappan Bark Extract Improves Intestinal Morphology and Modulates Immune- and Antioxidant-Related Gene Expression in Broilers
Abstract
Broiler chickens provide a sustainable and accessible protein source, but the use of antibiotics has prompted concerns about antimicrobial resistance and residual contamination. Therefore, this study evaluated dietary supplementation with Caesalpinia sappan bark extract (CSB) on intestinal morphology and immune- and antioxidant-related gene expression in broilers. A total of 256 Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to four groups receiving diets supplemented with 0, 150, 300, or 600 mg/kg CSB. Growth performance, small intestinal histology, and immune- and antioxidant-related gene expression were evaluated at the end of the 35-day rearing period. CSB supplementation did not alter body weight or average daily gain, whereas feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased at higher inclusion levels (p<0.05). CSB improved several intestinal morphology parameters, including villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (p<0.05). In the jejunum, higher CSB inclusion levels were associated with increased CAT and GPx expression and decreased TNF-α and IL-12 expression (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed associations between intestinal morphology and antioxidant- and immune-related gene expression. In conclusion, dietary CSB supplementation improved intestinal morphology and modulated jejunal antioxidant- and immune-related transcriptional responses. However, the higher inclusion levels that produced the clearest molecular responses also increased FCR. Thus, the present study does not establish a single optimal CSB dose, and further dose-response studies are required to balance intestinal and molecular responses with feed efficiency.
Full text article
References
Abd El-Hack, M. E., El-Saadony, M. T., Salem, H. M., El-Tahan, A. M., Soliman, M. M., Youssef, G. B. A., Taha, A. E., Soliman, S. M., Ahmed, A. E., El-kott, A. F., Al Syaad, K. M., & Swelum, A. A. (2022). Alternatives to antibiotics for organic poultry production: Types, modes of action, and impacts on bird’s health and production. Poultry Science, 101(4), 101696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101696
Arjin, C., Hongsibsong, S., Pringproa, K., Seel-Audom, M., Ruksiriwanich, W., Sutan, K., Sommano, S. R., & Sringarm, K. (2021). Effect of ethanolic Caesalpinia sappan fraction on in vitro antiviral activity against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Veterinary Sciences, 8(6), 106. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8060106
Aviagen. (2022). Ross 308/Ross 308 FF broiler: Performance objectives. Aviagen Group. https://aviagen.com/eu/brands/ross/products/ross-308
Biswas, S., Ahn, J. M., & Kim, I. H. (2024). Assessing the potential of phytogenic feed additives: A comprehensive review on their effectiveness as a potent dietary enhancement for nonruminant in swine and poultry. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 108(3), 711–723. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpn.13922
Chaiwang, N., Lumsangkul, C., Sringarm, K., Setthaya, P., Satsook, A., Kaewtui, P., Huanhong, K., & Arjin, C. (2026). Implications of Caesalpinia sappan Linn. extract supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, intestinal morphology, and antioxidant and immune-related gene expression in Thai native crossbred chickens. Livestock Science, 305, 105902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2026.105902
Chen, J., Huang, Z., Cao, X., Chen, X., Zou, T., & You, J. (2022). Plant-derived polyphenols as Nrf2 activators to counteract oxidative stress and intestinal toxicity induced by deoxynivalenol in swine: an emerging research direction. Antioxidants, 11(12), 2379. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11122379
Ducatelle, R., Goossens, E., De Meyer, F., Eeckhaut, V., Antonissen, G., Haesebrouck, F., & Van Immerseel, F. (2018). Biomarkers for monitoring intestinal health in poultry: Present status and future perspectives. Veterinary Research, 49(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-018-0538-6
Emami, N. K., Jung, U., Voy, B., & Dridi, S. (2021). Radical response: Effects of heat stress-induced oxidative stress on lipid metabolism in the avian liver. Antioxidants, 10(1), Article 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10010035
Gilani, S.M.H., Rashid, Z., Galani, S., Ilyas, S., Sahar, S., Zahoor-Ul-Hassan, Al-Ghanim, K., Zehra, S., Azhar, A., Al-Misned, F., Ahmed, Z., Al-Mulham, N., Mahboob, S. (2021). Growth performance, intestinal histomorphology, gut microflora and ghrelin gene expression analysis of broiler by supplementing natural growth promoters: A nutrigenomics approach. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 28(6), 3438-3447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.03.008
Hassan, F. A. M., Roushdy, E. M., Kishawy, A. T. Y., Zaglool, A. W., Tukur, H. A., & Saadeldin, I. M. (2019). Growth performance, antioxidant capacity, lipid-related transcript expression, and the economics of broiler chickens fed different levels of rutin. Animals, 9(1), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9010007
Huanhong, K., Lumsangkul, C., Arjin, C., Sirilun, S., Tangpao, T., Wang, Y.-L., Mektrirat, R., Lin, C.-S., Sommano, S. R., & Sringarm, K. (2025a). Dietary supplementation of coffee pulp extract enhances growth performance and intestinal morphology in broiler chicken. Poultry Science, 104(3), 104873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2025.104873
Huanhong, K., Sirilun, S., Lumsangkul, C., Lin, C.-S., Arjin, C., Rachtanapun, P., Sommano, S. R., & Sringarm, K. (2025b). Impact of coffee pulp phenolic extract supplementation on broiler performance, gut health, and immunity. Italian Journal of Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2566713
Li, Y., Wang, K., & Li, C. (2024). Oxidative stress in poultry and the therapeutic role of herbal medicine in intestinal health. Antioxidants, 13(11), 1375. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13111375
Longchuphon, M., Chongrattanameteekul, P., Mektrirat, R., Sringarm, K., Tapingkae, W., Srinual, O., Huanhong, K., Chaiphun, W., Arjin, C., Jaturasitha, S., & Lumsangkul, C. (2024). Effects of dietary supplementation with Caesalpinia sappan Linn. extract for promoting flock health and performance in late-phase laying hens. Animals, 14(3), 515. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030515
Maharjan, P., Martinez, D. A., Weil, J., Suesuttajit, N., Umberson, C., Mullenix, G., Hilton, K. M., Beitia, A., & Coon, C. N. (2021). Review: Physiological growth trend of current meat broilers and dietary protein and energy management approaches for sustainable broiler production. Animal, 15(suppl 1), 100284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2021.100284
Mishra, B., & Jha, R. (2019). Oxidative stress in the poultry gut: Potential challenges and interventions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6, 60. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00060
Nawab, A., Ibtisham, F., Li, G., Kieser, B., Wu, J., Liu, W., Zhao, Y., Nawab, Y., Li, K., Xiao, M., & An, L. (2018). Heat stress in poultry production: Mitigation strategies to overcome the future challenges facing the global poultry industry. Journal of Thermal Biology, 78, 131–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.08.010
Neeteson, A.-M., Avendaño, S., Koerhuis, A., Duggan, B., Souza, E., Mason, J., Ralph, J., Rohlf, P., Burnside, T., Kranis, A., & Bailey, R. (2023). Evolutions in commercial meat poultry breeding. Animals, 13(19), 3150. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193150
Norkeaw, R., Arjin, C., Sartsook, A., Chaiwang, N., Mekchay, S., Sommano, S. R., Ruksiriwanich, W., & Sringarm, K. (2022). Antioxidant activities of plant extracts and essential oil-cyclodextrin complexes and their effect on lipid accumulation in porcine adipocytes in vitro. Veterinary Integrative Sciences, 20(1), 209–229. https://doi.org/10.12982/VIS.2022.017
Oladokun, S., & Adewole, D. I. (2020). In ovo delivery of bioactive substances: An alternative to the use of antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production — A review. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 29(3), 744–763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2020.06.002
Osho, S. O., & Adeola, O. (2020). Chitosan oligosaccharide supplementation alleviates stress stimulated by in-feed dexamethasone in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 99(4), 2061–2067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2019.11.047
Sopian, Y., Sartsook, A., Arjin, C., Lumsangkul, C., Sringarm, K., Sivapirunthep, P., & Chaosap, C. (2024). Dietary supplementation of Cannabis sativa residues in broiler chickens affects performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology, blood biochemistry profile, and oxidative stability. Poultry Science, 103(3), 104117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2024.104117
Surai, P. F., Kochish, I. I., Fisinin, V. I., & Kidd, M. T. (2019). Antioxidant defence systems and oxidative stress in poultry biology: an update. Antioxidants, 8(7), 235. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8070235
Syamsunarno, M. R. A., Safitri, R., & Kamisah, Y. (2021). Protective effects of Caesalpinia sappan Linn. and its bioactive compounds on cardiovascular organs. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, Article 725745. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.725745
Tang, K. L., Caffrey, N. P., Nóbrega, D. B., Cork, S. C., Ronksley, P. E., Barkema, H. W., Polachek, A. J., Ganshorn, H., Sharma, N., Kellner, J. D., & Ghali, W. A. (2017). Restricting the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals and its associations with antibiotic resistance in food-producing animals and human beings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Planetary Health, 1(8), e316–e327. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(17)30141-9
Tasuksai, P., Sringam, K., Chuammitri, P., Pringproa, K., Yano, T., Hnokaew, P., Satsook, A., Tongkham, M., & Arjin, C. (2025). Caesalpinia sappan and Tiliacora triandra powder as a novel feed additive to mitigate PRRSV infection in weaned pigs. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 24(1), 2404–2417. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2025.2579164
Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Tropical Animal Science Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors submitting manuscripts should understand and agree that copyright of manuscripts of the article shall be assigned/transferred to Tropical Animal Science Journal. The statement to release the copyright to Tropical Animal Science Journal is stated in Form A. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA) where Authors and Readers can copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, as well as remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, but they must give appropriate credit (cite to the article or content), provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
Article Details
