Effects of lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus) and aloe vera (aloe barbadensis) as feed additives on morphometry of small intestine of cobb strain chicks

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of lemongrass, aloe vera and combination of lemongrass and aloe vera as dietary supplement to assess histomorphometry of small intestines of Cobb strain broilers under normal and heat stress condition. All the micrometrical parameters showed a signiicant increase (P<0.05) in duodenum, jejunum and ileum in all the experimental groups (C1, C2, T1, T2, and T3) with the advancement of age. A signiicant increasing (P<0.05) trend in the height of epithelial cells in all three segments of the small intestine was seen in C1, T1, T2 and T3 groups as compared with the heat stressed (C2) group on day 28 and 42. A signiicantly higher (P<0.05) villus height of all three segments of intestines was observed in experimental groups (C1, T1, T2 and T3) as compared to C2 (heat stress) group on day 28 and 42. Signiicantly higher (P<0.05) villus width of intestinal segment was seen in the supplemented (T1, T2 and T3) groups and in C1 (normal temperature) as compared to C2 (heat stress) group. Signiicantly lower (P<0.05) values for the width of lamina muscularis were recorded in heat-stressed control (C2) when compared to birds reared in normal control temperature (C1).