Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf - a promising medicinal herb to prevent pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens reared at high altitude.

Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf, formerly Apium odoratissima, is a plant locally called "Karafs", found in central Zagros region of Iran. Leaves and stems of the plant are traditionally used in the treatment of hypertension and inflammation. Lowering blood pressure effects of Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf (wild celery) was evaluated in preventing pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broiler chickens reared at high altitude (2,100 m). A total number of 208 day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatments including different levels of Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) in a 42-day trial. Body weight gain and feed:gain responses significantly (P<0.05) improved when Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf was included in broiler diets at 0.75% in the growing stage and throughout the trial. Over-expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase in the heart was observed in chickens fed Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf. Birds received Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf at 0.5% and 0.75% had significantly (P<0.05) higher circulatory concentrations of NO though significantly (P<0.05) lower serum malondialdehyde concentration, hematocrit and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio when compared to the birds fed the control diet. Feeding Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf at 0.5% and 0.75% prevented from right ventricular hypertrophy and led to a significant decline in mortality from PHS. It can be concluded that Kelussia odoratissima Mozzaf is a promising medicinal herb to prevent PHS in broiler chickens by improving blood pressure and antioxidant responses.