Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Abstract

The effect of 3 weeks oral administration of 20% black tea infusion or decoction alone or combined with 0.5% H2O2 on body weight and certain blood biochemical constituents was studied in broiler chickens. The results indicated a significant decrease in body weight, treatment with black tea decoction with or without H2O2 produced a significant decrease in both serum cholesterol and total li[pid. Black tea infusion with H2O2 induced a significant decrease in serum cholesterol level. A significant increase in serum sodium concentration was observed in animals treated with black tea decoction. In addition, black tea decoction alone or with H2O2 caused a significant decrease in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentration. Morover, different black tea treatments decreased liver glycogen concentration compared with its increased level with H2O2 treated groups. It is concluded that the use of widely available, inexpensive beverage tea displayed valuable preventive properties on some biochemical parameters in broiler exposed to experimental hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress.