Effect of Phytobiotic Carica Papaya Seed Extract on Growth Performance, Physiological Parameters, Gastrointestinal and Immune Organs of Broilers

Papaya (Carica papaya) seeds (PS) are known as a potential phytobiotic alternative to Antibiotic Growth Promotor (AGP) in poultry. Papaya seed extract (PSE) contains bioactive compounds such as carpine, chymopapain, and papain. Two hundred one-day-old Cobb strain broiler chicks were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment, and each replicate consisted of ten birds. During the first 7 days, all birds were fed a basal diet for adaptation, after which the experimental diets containing 0% (ZE), 0.025% (LE), 0.05% (ME), 0.075% (HE), and 0.1% (VHE) PSE were provided for 28 days. Feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded every week, while organ weights, intestinal morphometry, hematological values, and serum biochemical parameters were analyzed at the end of the trial. The results showed no significant differences (p>0.05) in growth performances, organ weights, or hematological indices among treatments. Serum albumin levels increased significantly (p<0.05) in birds in the LE group compared to the other groups. In conclusion, dietary inclusion with PSE in broiler diets can improve protein metabolism (albumin concentration) without adverse effects on growth, organ development, or blood health parameters up to 0.1% in the diet.