Effect of ellagic acid and mesocarp extract of Punica granatum on productive and reproductive performance of Gallus gallus

Abstract In the present study, we determined the potential effects of ellagic acid and mesocarp extract of Punica granatum on the productive and reproduction performance of laying hens. Five treatments groups were setup: (1) control group (without ellagic acid), (2) 50 mg of ellagic acid, (3) 100 mg of ellagic acid, (4) 200 mg of ellagic acid, and (5) mesocarp extract of P. granatum. All the groups were investigated for feed intake, body weight, egg production, egg quality, fertility, hatchability, antioxidant status of serum and liver, lipid peroxidation, and antibacterial activities. Egg production, feed intake and body weight were significantly increased (p < 0.05) with 100 mg of ellagic acid and P. granatum extract while no significant effect was observed on albumen and yolk weight, yolk index, yolk color, egg-shape index, and Hough unit. Both ellagic acid and P. granatum extract significantly improved hatchability while 100 and 200 mg/kg of ellagic acid numerically decrease fertility. Besides, ellagic acid and P. granatum extract significantly decreased malondialdehyde concentration and increased total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase, and total superoxide dismutase in serum and liver samples of laying hens (p < 0.05). The lipid peroxidation was decreased among the treatments groups, with 100 mg of ellagic acid and P. granatum extract showed the best activity. Moreover, ellagic acid showed strong killing activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus while it was ineffective against methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Our results conclude that ellagic acid and P. granatum promotes egg production, hatchability, and antioxidant enzymes activities of the Gallus gallus.