Incorporation of Cestrum diurnum leaf improves intestinal Ca transport in broilers

Abstract The economy of Ca utilization is under the control of vitamin D 3 , particularly its active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxy cholecalciferol [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ]. In sufficient Ca absorption leads to tibial dyschondroplasia resulting in not attaining optimum body weight. Our earlier studies [T.P. Prema, N. Raghuramulu, Phytochemistry 37 (1994) 167] have shown that the Cestrum diurnum (CD) leaves contain vitamin D 3 metabolites. It was felt whether incorporation of CD as a source of 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 could improve the Ca absorption in broilers. Four groups of 60 birds each were fed with either normal diet or normal diet + 0.25% CD or normal diet without vitamin D 3 or normal diet without vitamin D 3  + 0.25% CD leaf powder for 45 days. In subsample of six birds it was observed that incorporation of CD leaves in the feed had the maximal effect on all the parameters studied. The results indicate that the intestinal Ca transport as represented by Serosa/Mucosa (S/M) ratio was found to be significantly ( p p