Effects of Leontopodium alpinum supplementation on blood parameters, hepatic histology, and gene expression in broiler chickens.

Amid the growing demand for natural growth promoters in poultry production, phytobiotics are being extensively explored for their bioactive properties. Study aimed to evaluate the effects of Leontopodium alpinum extract on blood parameters, hepatic histopathological changes, and the expression of genes in broiler chickens. A total of 180 Ross broilers were divided into groups: control (C), E1 (0.5 g kg-1 feed), E2 (1.0 g kg-1 feed). Reductions in serum ALT and AST activities (p < 0.001), TCH (p = 0.001), and TG (p = 0.014) were observed in group E2. E1 showed the most favorable coagulation profile in the case of FIB (p = 0.038), TT (p = 0.041), and PT (p = 0.013), compared to groups E2 and C. Hematological analysis showed increased RBC (p = 0.007), hemoglobin (p = 0.037), WBC (p = 0.001), neutrophils (p = 0.022), and decreased monocytes (p = 0.039) in group E2. Expression of metabolic regulators FASN (E1, p = 0.018; E2, p = 0.007), NRF1 (E2 vs. C, p = 0.002; E2 vs. E1, p = 0.033), PPARA (E2 vs. C, p = 0.002; E2 vs. E1, p = 0.009), and UGT1A1 (E2 vs. C, p = 0.001) was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. HMOX1 (p = 0.003), NFE2L2 (E2 vs. C, p = 0.021), and NQO1 (E2 vs. C, p = 0.003) were downregulated in E2. L. alpinum (E2) enhances antioxidant capacity and metabolic performance in birds without histopathological or hemostatic side effects.