Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Intensive broiler production exposes birds to chronic stress that elevates circulating glucocorticoids and drives oxidative injury in the metabolically active myocardium. This study evaluated the cardioprotective potential of dietary Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) and a vitamin E-selenium combination against dexamethasone induced oxidative stress in the broiler heart. A total of 180 one day old Cobb 430 chicks were randomly allotted to six groups: basal control (G1), dexamethasone (G2), 1% MOLP (G3), dexamethasone + MOLP (G4), vitamin E-selenium (G5) and dexamethasone + vitamin E- selenium (G6). Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg body weight) was administered through drinking water on days 714. Hearts collected on days 15, 30 and 45 were assayed for lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S transferase (GST) and total antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC, FRAP) in tissue lysates. Dexamethasone markedly raised malondialdehyde and depleted GSH, SOD, CAT, GST, CUPRAC and FRAP at all sampling points. MOLP produced notable biochemical restoration, exceeding control values for several antioxidant markers, whereas vitamin E- selenium recorded the lowest malondialdehyde and highest glutathione by day 45. Overall, both Moringa oleifera and vitamin E-selenium effectively counter dexamethasone induced cardiac oxidative stress, representing practical nutritional strategies for safeguarding broiler heart health.