The effect of supplementing rosemary essential oil and selenium yeast in the diet on sperm parameters and antioxidant activity of semen in older broiler breeder roosters

Document Type : Full paper (Original article)

Authors

1 Graduated from Faculty of Animal Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

2 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Technology, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran

3 Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

10.22099/ijvr.2025.51978.7746

Abstract

Background: Aging is associated with various physiological changes that lead to oxidative stress and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), negatively affecting sperm structure and function. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of incorporating rosemary essential oil and selenium yeast into the diet on sperm quality parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation rates of semen in aged broiler breeder roosters. Methods: Thirty-six 57-week-old Ross 308 roosters were randomly assigned in a 3×2 factorial arrangement, in six treatments with six replications. The treatments included three levels of rosemary essential oil (0, 100, and 200 mg/kg) and two levels of selenium yeast (0 and 0.3 mg/kg) for 7 weeks. Sperm parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation levels in seminal plasma were evaluated. Results: The results showed significant effects of rosemary essential oil and selenium yeast on sperm parameters. 100 mg rosemary essential oil plus 0.3 mg selenium yeast/kg of diet showed the most significant improvement in sperm quality (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in sperm morphological abnormalities among the treatments. Additionally, seminal plasma antioxidant enzyme activities, including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) significantly increased and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased, particularly in the treatment containing 100 mg rosemary essential oil plus 0.3 mg selenium yeast/kg diet (P<0.05). Conclusion: Overall, 100 mg/kg rosemary essential oil combined with 0.3 mg/kg selenium yeast in the diet is recommended for aged broiler breeder roosters to enhance their reproductive function.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Akhlaghi, A; Ahangari, YJ; Zhandi, M and Peebles, ED (2014). Reproductive performance, semen quality, and fatty acid profile of spermatozoa in senescent broiler breeder roosters as enhanced by the long-term feeding of dried apple pomace. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 147: 64-73.
Alavi, MS; Fanoudi, S; Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M; Mehri, S and Hosseinzadeh, H (2021). An updated review of protective effects of rosemary and its active constituents against natural and chemical toxicities. Phytother. Res., 35: 1313-1328.
Ali, ME; Zainhom, MY; Monir, A; Awad, AA and Al-Saeed, FA (2024). Dietary supplementation with rosemary essential oil improves genital characteristics, semen parameters and testosterone concentration in Barki rams. J. Basic Appl. Zool., 85: 1-11.
Arnaut, PR; da Silva Viana, G; da Fonseca, L; Alves, WJ; Muniz, JCL; Pettigrew, JE and Hannas, MI (2021). Selenium source and level on performance, selenium retention and biochemical responses of young broiler chicks. BMC Vet. Res., 17: 1-13.
Authaida, S; Ratchamak, R; Boonkum, W and Chankitisakul, V (2023). Increasing sperm production and improving cryosurvival of semen in aged Thai native roosters as affected by selenium supplementation. Anim. Biosci., 36: 1647-1654.
Bakırel, T; Bakırel, U; Keleş, OÜ; Ülgen, SG and Yardibi, H (2008). In vivo assessment of antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in alloxan-diabetic rabbits. J. Ethnopharmacol., 116: 64-73.
Bano, I; Malhi, M; Khatri, P; Soomro, SA; Sajjad, H; Leghari, A and Soomro, M (2019). Effect of dietary selenium yeast supplementation on morphology and antioxidant status in testes of young goat. Pak. J. Zool., 51: 979-988.
Barakat, H and Ghazal, GA (2016). Antifungal and antioxidant activities of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oil. J. Food Dairy Sci., 7: 273-282.
Barbarestani, SY; Samadi, F; Zaghari, M; Pirsaraei, ZA and Kastelic, JP (2024). Dietary supplementation with barley sprouts and d-aspartic acid improves reproductive hormone concentrations, testicular histology, antioxidant status, and mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related genes in aged broiler breeder roosters. Theriogenology. 214: 224-232.
Behnamifar, A; Rahimi, S; Torshizi, MAK; Sharafi, M and Grimes, JL (2021). Effects of dietary alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on the seminal parameters and fertility potential in aging broiler breeder roosters. Poult. Sci., 100: 1221-1238.
Bonanno, O; Romeo, G; Asero, P; Pezzino, FM; Castiglione, R; Burrello, N and D'Agata, R (2016). Sperm of patients with severe asthenozoospermia show biochemical, molecular and genomic alterations. Reproduction. 152: 695-704.
Borrás-Linares, I; Stojanović, Z; Quirantes-Piné, R; Arráez-Román, D; Švarc-Gajić, J; Fernández-Gutiérrez, A and Segura-Carretero, A (2014). Rosmarinus officinalis leaves as a natural source of bioactive compounds. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 15: 20585-20606.
Brewer, MS (2011). Natural antioxidants: sources, compounds, mechanisms of action, and potential applications. Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf., 10: 221-247.
Carrillo-Nieto, O; Domínguez-Vara, IA; Huerta-Bravo, M; Jaramillo-Escutia, G; Díaz-Zarco, S; Vázquez-Armijo, JF and Revilla-Vázquez, A (2018). GSX-Px activity, selenium concentration and semen quality on rams supplemented with selenium during reproduction stage. Agrociencia. 52: 827-839.
Chauychu-Noo, N; Thananurak, P; Boonkum, W; Vongpralub, T and Chankitisakul, V (2021). Effect of organic selenium dietary supplementation on quality and fertility of cryopreserved chicken sperm. Cryobiol., 98: 57-62.
Christopoulou, SD; Androutsopoulou, C; Hahalis, P; Kotsalou, C; Vantarakis, A and Lamari, FN (2021). Rosemary extract and essential oil as drink ingredients: An evaluation of their chemical composition, genotoxicity, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Foods. 10: 31-43.
Darwish, AM; Almehiza, AA; Khattab, AEN; Sharaf, HA; Naglah, AM; Bhat, MA and Kalmouch, A (2024). Using selenium-enriched mutated probiotics as enhancer for fertility parameters in mice. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 202: 1-8.
Deniz, G; Mukaddes, EFİL; Cengiz, Ş; Atamay, K and Bahadır, ANAR (2022). An investigation on the supplementation of rosemary volatile oil to the laying quail diets. Ank. Univ. Vet. Fak. Derg., 69: 17-23.
Dutta, S; Majzoub, A and Agarwal, A (2019). Oxidative stress and sperm function: A systematic review on evaluation and management. Arab J. Urol., 17: 87-97.
El-Demerdash, FM; El-Sayed, RA and Abdel-Daim, MM (2021). Hepatoprotective potential of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil against hexavalent chromium-induced hematotoxicity, biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical changes in male rats. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 28: 17445-17456.
El-Gogary, MR; El-Said, EA and Mansour, AM (2018). Physiological and immunological effects of rosemary essential oil in growing rabbit diets. J. Agric. Sci., 10: 485-491.
Gallego, MG; Gordon, MH; Segovia, FJ; Skowyra, M and Almajano, MP (2013). Antioxidant properties of three aromatic herbs (rosemary, thyme and lavender) in oil-in-water emulsions. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc., 90: 1559-1568.
Gülçin, İ; Scozzafava, A; Supuran, CT; Koksal, Z; Turkan, F; Çetinkaya, S and Alwasel, SH (2016). Rosmarinic acid inhibits some metabolic enzymes including glutathione S-transferase, lactoperoxidase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes. J. Enzyme Inhib. Med. Chem., 31: 1698-1702.
Habib, A; Ouda, M and Bealish, A (2017). Influence of using dietary antioxidant on productive and reproductive performance of mandara strains under summer conditions. J. Prod. Dev., 22: 751-780.
Habotta, OA; Wang, X; Othman, H; Aljali, AA; Gewaily, M; Dawood, M and Abdeen, A (2022). Selenium-enriched yeast modulates the metal bioaccumulation, oxidant status, and inflammation in copper-stressed broiler chickens. Front. Pharmacol., 13: 1-16.
Horky, P; Ruttkay-Nedecky, B; Kremplova, M; Krystofova, O; Kensova, R; Hynek, D and Kizek, R (2013). Effect of different doses of organically bound selenium on antioxidant status and levels of metal ions in postpartum sows. Int. J. Electrochem. Sci., 8: 6162-6179.
Hosny, NS; Hashem, NM; Morsy, AS and Abo-Elezz, ZR (2020). Effects of organic selenium on the physiological response, blood metabolites, redox status, semen quality, and fertility of rabbit bucks kept under natural heat stress conditions. Front. Vet. Sci., 7: 1-14.
Huang, J; Xie, L; Song, A and Zhang, C (2022). Selenium status and its antioxidant role in metabolic diseases. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev., 2022: 1-15.
Ingold, I and Conrad, M (2018). Oxidative stress, selenium redox systems including GPx/TXNRD families. In book: Selenium. (1st Edn.), Springer Cham Publisher. PP: 111-135.
Kamrani, N; Karimi, A; Nazari, M and Masoudi, R (2021). Modulation of negative effects of physiological stress on frozen-thawed semen with nutrition of organic selenium in Ross 308 rooster. Arch. Razi Inst., 76: 1787-1795.
Kaur, P and Bansal, MP (2004). Influence of selenium induced oxidative stress on spermatogenesis and lactate dehydrogenase-X in mice testis. Asian J. Androl., 6: 227-232.
Kaurinovic, B and Vastag, D (2019). Flavonoids and phenolic acids as potential natural antioxidants. In book: Antioxidants. (1st Edn.), London, UK: IntechOpen, IntechOpen Publisher. PP: 1-20.
Khang, NTK; Suong, NTM and Phuong, LT (2022). Effects of vitamin E supplement and semen collection time on sperm quality of locally Noi crossbred cocks. Multidiscip. Sci. J., 4: 1-8.
Khattab, AEN; Darwish, AM; Othman, SI; Allam, AA and Alqhtani, HA (2023). Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potency of selenium-enriched probiotic mutants in mice with induced ulcerative colitis. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 201: 353-367.
Khnissi, S; Bomboi, G; Khémiri, I; Salem, IB; Dattena, M; Sai, S and Lassoued, N (2023). Incorporation of fresh leaves of wormwood (Artemisia herba alba) and/or rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in the diet of rams: Effect on testicular function, sexual behavior, and blood parameters. Food Sci. Nutr., 11: 3121-3130.
Li, X; Hua, J; Wang, S; Hu, Z; Wen, A and Yang, B (2023). Genes and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of selenium-enriched yeast on liver metabolism and health of broiler (Gallus gallus). Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 201: 387-402.
Long, C; Zhu, GY; Sheng, XH; Xing, K; Venema, K; Wang, XG and Qi, XL (2022). Dietary supplementation with selenomethionine enhances antioxidant capacity and selenoprotein gene expression in layer breeder roosters. Poult. Sci., 101: 1-7.
Mehdipour, M; Daghigh Kia, H; Najafi, A; Mohammadi, H and Álvarez-Rodriguez, M (2020). Effect of crocin and naringenin supplementation in cryopreservation medium on post-thaw rooster sperm quality and expression of apoptosis associated genes. PloS One. 15: 1-17.
Miller, NJ; Rice-Evans, C; Davies, MJ; Gopinathan, V and Milner, A (1993). A novel method for measuring antioxidant capacity and its application to monitoring the antioxidant status in premature neonates. Clin. Sci., 84: 407-412.
Min, YN; Niu, ZY; Sun, TT; Wang, ZP; Jiao, PX; Zi, BB and Liu, FZ (2018). Vitamin E and vitamin C supplementation improves antioxidant status and immune function in oxidative-stressed breeder roosters by up-regulating expression of GSH-Px gene. Poult. Sci., 97: 1238-1244.
Nehme, R; Andrés, S; Pereira, RB; Ben Jemaa, M; Bouhallab, S; Ceciliani, F and Abdennebi-Najar, L (2021). Essential oils in livestock: From health to food quality. Antioxidants. 10: 1-36.
Ozturk Kurt, B and Ozdemir, S (2022). Selenium in food chain in relation to human and animal nutrition and health. In book: Selenium and nano-selenium in environmental stress management and crop quality improvement, Springer International Publishing (1st Edn.), PP: 383-436.
Paglia, DE and Valentine, WN (1967). Studies on the quantitative and qualitative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. J. Lab. Clin. Med., 70: 158-169.
Paoletti, F; Aldinucci, D; Mocali, A and Caparrini, A (1986). A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of superoxide dismutase activity in tissue extracts. Anal. Biochem., 154: 536-541.
Pieczyńska, J and Grajeta, H (2015). The role of selenium in human conception and pregnancy. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol., 29: 31-38.
Qazi, IH; Angel, C; Yang, H; Zoidis, E; Pan, B; Wu, Z and Zhou G (2019). Role of selenium and selenoproteins in male reproductive function: a review of past and present evidences. Antioxidants. 8: 1-36.
Raei, H; Torshizi, MAK; Sharafi, M and Ahmadi, H (2021). Improving seminal quality and reproductive performance in male broiler breeder by supplementation of camphor. Theriogenology. 166: 1-8.
Rengaraj, D and Hong, YH (2015). Effects of dietary vitamin E on fertility functions in poultry species. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 16: 9910-9921.
Sabzian-Melei, R; Zare-Shahneh, A; Zhandi, M; Yousefi, AR and Rafieian-Naeini, HR (2022). Effects of dietary supplementation of different sources and levels of selenium on the semen quality and reproductive performance in aged broiler breeder roosters. Poult. Sci., 101: 1-8.
Safarinejad, MR and Safarinejad, S (2009). Efficacy of selenium and/or N-acetyl-cysteine for improving semen parameters in infertile men: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study. J. Urol., 181: 741-751.
Salih, SA; Daghigh-Kia, H; Mehdipour, M and Najafi, A (2021). Does ergothioneine and thawing temperatures improve rooster semen post-thawed quality? Poult. Sci., 100: 1-6.
Samo, SP; Malhi, M; Gadahi, J; Lei, Y; Kaciwal, AB and Soomro, SA (2018). Effect of organic selenium supplementation in diet on gastrointestinal tract performance and meat quality of goat. Pak. J. Zool., 50: 995-1001.
Shahverdi, A; Sharafi, M; Gourabi, H; Yekta, AA; Esmaeili, V; Sharbatoghli, M and Mostafayi, F (2015). Fertility and flow cytometric evaluations of frozen-thawed rooster semen in cryopreservation medium containing low-density lipoprotein. Theriogenology. 83: 78-85.
Sun, Y; Oberley, LW and Li, Y (1988). A simple method for clinical assay of superoxide dismutase. Clin. Chem., 34: 497-500.
Surai, PF; Kochish, II and Fisinin, VI (2018). Glutathione peroxidases in poultry biology: Part 1. Classification and mechanisms of action. World. Poult. Sci. J., 74: 185-198.
Touat-Hamici, Z; Legrain, Y; Bulteau, AL and Chavatte, L (2014). Selective up-regulation of human selenoproteins in response to oxidative stress. J. Biol. Chem., 289: 14750-14761.
Touazi, L; Aberkane, B; Bellik, Y; Moula, N and Iguer-Ouada, M (2018). Effect of the essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis (L.) on rooster sperm motility during 4 °C short-term storage. Vet. World. 11: 590-597.
Tousson, E; Bayomy, MF and Ahmed, AA (2018). Rosemary extract modulates fertility potential, DNA fragmentation, injury, KI67 and P53 alterations induced by etoposide in rat testes. Biomed. Pharmacother., 98: 769-774.
Türk, G; Çeribaş, AO; Şimşek, ÜG; Çeribaş, S; Güvenç, M; Kaya, ŞÖ and Tonbak, F (2016). Dietary rosemary oil alleviates heat stress-induced structural and functional damage through lipid peroxidation in the testes of growing Japanese quail. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 164: 133-143.
Wang, Z; Kong, L; Zhu, L; Hu, X; Su, P and Song, Z (2021b). The mixed application of organic and inorganic selenium shows better effects on incubation and progeny parameters. Poult. Sci., 100: 1132-1141.
Wang, HL; Sun, ZO; Rehman, RU; Wang, H; Wang, YF and Wang, H (2017a). Rosemary extract-mediated lifespan extension and attenuated oxidative damage in drosophila melanogaster fed on high-fat diet. J. Food Sci., 82: 1006-1011.
 
Wang, Y; Yang, HM; Cao, W and Li, YB (2017b). Effect of selenium supplementation on pigeon reproductive performance, selenium concentration and antioxidant status. Poult. Sci., 96: 3407-3413.
Wang, Q; Zhan, S; Liu, Y; Han, F; Shi, L; Han, C and Huang, ZW (2021a). Low-Se diet can affect sperm quality and testicular glutathione peroxidase-4 activity in rats. Biol. Trace Elem. Res., 199: 3752-3758.
Wróblewski, M; Wróblewska, W and Sobiesiak, M (2024). The role of selected elements in oxidative stress protection: key to healthy fertility and reproduction. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 25: 1-14.
Zubair, M; Martyniuk, CJ; Partyka, A and Saleemi, MK (2023). Dietary use of selenium: a review of the antioxidant and scavenging effects on the poultry male reproductive system. World. Poult. Sci. J., 79: 713-729.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics