Abstract Due to a series of problems, such as drug resistance and tissue residue caused by adding antibiotics to feed, this research aimed to study the effects of Artemisia annua L. aqueous extract (AAE) as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance and antioxidant capacity of broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old mixed-sex Arbour Acres broilers were randomly allotted into six groups with five replicates of eight birds each. These six diets were formulated by adding 0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 mg/kg AAE and 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CTC) to the basal diet, respectively. Average daily body weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined, and the relative gene expression in tissues was measured. The polyphenol flavonoid contents and in vitro antioxidative results showed that: the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 39.58 ± 6.01 mg GAE/g, 7.04 ± 0.55 mg RE/g, respectively. The inclusion of AAE increased ADG, the activities of T-AOC, CAT, SOD and GSH-Px, and the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, the concentrations of MDA decreased in serum and tissues. In conclusion, AAE can be used as a feed additive due to its capability to improve growth performance, antioxidant function in broilers. Dietary inclusion of 1000–1500 mg/kg AAE can be used as an alternative for antibiotic growth promoter replacement without negative effect on broiler performance. Highlights Artemisia annua L. aqueous extract can promote growth performance and antioxidant function of Broilers. Artemisia annua L. aqueous extract is expected to become the substitute for antibiotics and promote the growth of the body. The optimal dose range of Artemisia annua L. aqueous extract in diet of broilers was 1000–1500 mg/kg.

中文翻译：

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青蒿水提取物作为抗生素的替代品，可改善肉鸡的生长性能和抗氧化功能

摘要 由于饲料中添加抗生素引起的耐药性和组织残留等一系列问题，本研究旨在研究青蒿水提物（AAE）作为抗生素替代品对生长性能和抗氧化能力的影响。的肉鸡。总共 240 只 1 日龄混合性别 Arbor Acres 肉鸡被随机分配到六组，每组 8 只鸡，重复 5 次。这六种日粮分别通过在基础日粮中添加 0、500、1000、1500、2000 毫克/公斤 AAE 和 50 毫克/公斤金霉素 (CTC) 来配制。测量平均日增重（ADG）、平均日采食量（ADFI）和饲料转化率（FCR）。总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）、过氧化氢酶活性（CAT）、测定超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD) 和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (GSH-Px) 和丙二醛 (MDA) 的浓度，并测量组织中的相对基因表达。多酚类黄酮含量和体外抗氧化结果表明：总酚类和总黄酮含量分别为39.58±6.01mg GAE/g、7.04±0.55mg RE/g。AAE的加入增加了ADG、T-AOC、CAT、SOD和GSH-Px的活性，以及​​抗氧化酶的基因表达，血清和组织中MDA的浓度降低。总之，AAE 可用作饲料添加剂，因为它能够改善肉鸡的生长性能和抗氧化功能。日粮中添加 1000–1500 mg/kg AAE 可用作抗生素生长促进剂替代品的替代品，而不会对肉鸡生产性能产生负面影响。亮点 青蒿水提物可促进肉鸡的生长性能和抗氧化功能。青蒿水提物有望成为抗生素的替代品，促进机体生长。青蒿水提物在肉鸡日粮中的最佳剂量范围为 1000–1500 mg/kg。