Journal of Agricultural Science and Practice

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
Integrity Research Journals

ISSN: 2536-7072
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASP
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasp@integrityresjournals.org

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The effects of dietary ginger and graded levels of Vitamin C on antioxidant and pro-oxidant status in grower-finisher broiler chickens

https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2026.576   |   Article Number: E9D64C513   |   Vol.11 (1) - April 2026

Received Date: 25 March 2026   |   Accepted Date: 24 April 2026  |   Published Date: 30 April 2026

Authors:  Uba, D. , Fakae, L. B. , Johnson, N. C. and Diri, M.*

Keywords: oxidative stress, vitamin C., Ginger, Antioxidants, broiler chicken, malondialdehyde

ABSTRACT

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The antioxidant and pro-oxidant responses of broiler chickens to dietary ginger and vitamin C were investigated. Antioxidants studied included glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), while malondialdehyde (MDA) served as the pro-oxidant indicator. One hundred and fifty (150) unsexed Agrited day-old chicks were used. On arrival, chicks were brooded for 4 weeks before being randomly assigned to five dietary treatment groups. Each group comprised 30 birds with three (3) replicates of ten (10) birds each. Ginger was fixed at 10 g/kg while vitamin C was graded as follows: Treatment 1 (T1), the negative control, contained 0 g/kg ginger + 0 mg/kg vitamin C; T2: 10 g/kg ginger + 100 mg/kg vitamin C; T3: 10 g/kg ginger + 200 mg/kg vitamin C; T4: 10 g/kg ginger + 300 mg/kg vitamin C; and T5: 10 g/kg ginger + 400 mg/kg vitamin C. After 4 weeks on their respective experimental diets, 9 birds per group (3 per replicate) were sacrificed for blood collection. GSH, GPx, CAT, and SOD levels in T2–T5 were significantly (p<0.05) higher than in T1, with T3 recording the highest values. MDA levels were significantly (p<0.05) highest in T1 and T5, and lowest in T3. It was concluded that dietary ginger and vitamin C improve antioxidant status and reduce oxidative stress in broiler chickens, particularly at the combination of 10 g/kg ginger and 200 mg/kg vitamin C.

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