In ovo exposure of Eurycoma longifolia extract on the pre-hatched development of chicken embryo

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of in ovo administration of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) extract (TAE) on the survivability and pre hatch development of chicken embryo. A dose response study of 0.1 mg, 1 mg and 10 mg TAE/100g egg on embryo survivability during first 5 days of incubation showed that the 0.1 to 1mg exposures had no effect on embryo survivability, and the lethal dose to kill 50% (LD₅₀) was at around 10 mg. The 0.1 mg exposure was found to be non-lethal to the developing embryo until 19^th day of incubation and it also enhanced (p<0.05) the somite development (42 in TAE and 38 in control embryos) in 88 to 96 hours embryo. Then 0.1 mg TAE exposure resulted in 70.5% body mass gain (% to egg weight) in the 19^th day embryo in contrast to53.4% in the control. Compared to control, significant increases in limb lengths and feather-follicles in 9-day old embryos were observed in the 0.1 mg TAE group. On 19^th day of incubation, the 100% of the 0.1mg TAE exposed embryos were found to produce traceable vocal sounds along with the pipping marks on egg shell, but these phenomena were almost absent in the control chicks during the same period of incubation. Results suggested that the TAE exposure at >1 mg/100 egg dose is lethal to developing chicken embryo, but the 0.1 mg TAE/100g egg exposure through in ovo injection can be a beneficial strategy to produce heavier and stronger day old chicks.

Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2016. 45 (2): 24-29