Green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles utilizing Garcinia mangostana leaves enhance performance, carcass traits, meat quality, antioxidant status, and insuline-like growth factor-1 gene expression in broiler chickens.

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat color, antioxidant activity, and insuline-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) gene expression in broiler chickens. This study used 200 Cobb500 broiler chicks aged two days. The observation was conducted for 5 weeks and used a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replications (10 chicks, each replicates). The treatment were: Control (basal diet); ZnO-NPs 50 (control + 50 mg Zn/kg); ZnO-NPs 75 (control + 75 mg Zn/kg); ZnO-NPs 100 (control + 100 mg Zn/kg). Performance, carcass traits, Zn content and antioxidant activity, meat color, and IGF-1 gene expression were observed. Supplementation of ZnO-NPs (d 1-14) significantly (P < 0.05) increased body weight and improved feed-to-gain ratio, whereas no effects (P > 0.05) were observed on average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or feed-to-gain ratio during days 15-35. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) also significantly (P < 0.05) increased the hue (h*) value while reducing the lightness (L*) and redness (a*) of the breast. Supplementation enhanced Zn deposition and SOD enzyme activity, accompanied by a decrease in MDA concentration in the breast. However, ZnO-NPs did not affect (P > 0.05) carcass traits (percentage of breast, back, thigh, and drumstick meat), nor did the yellowness (b*) and chromaticity (c*) of breast meat and IGF-1 gene expression in the small intestine. Overall, the addition of ZnO-NPs at levels up to 100 mg Zn/kg in broiler chicken feed during the growth phase leads to optimal improvements in performance parameters. Mechanistically, ZnO-NPs function as redox modulators rather than direct antioxidants, eliciting dose-dependent pro-oxidant and antioxidant responses in broiler chickens. This modulatory effect contributes to enhanced antioxidant status, a tendency to support the IGF-1 gene expression profile, and a reduction in oxidative stress. Furthermore, breast meat derived from chickens supplemented with ZnO-NPs demonstrates potential as a functional food with added health benefits.