Sessions

Heat stress poses a major challenge to poultry production by inducing oxidative damage and cellular dysfunction in different organs and tissues, including chicken hepatocytes. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are essential for protein homeostasis and cell survival under thermal stress. This study examined the effects of curcuma and ginger extracts at different concentrations on HSP27, HSP70, and HSP90 expression as well as cytokines, like interleukin-(IL)-6, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Cultivated chicken hepatocytes were treated with low and high extract concentrations and exposed to 43 °C for 1 h.

Curcuma treatments significantly elevated HSP27 and HSP90 but reduced HSP70, suggesting improved thermal tolerance. Ginger showed no significant effects on HSPs. IL-6 rose in both turmeric groups, while IL-10 increased only at the high concentration. IFN-γ was slightly elevated by low curcuma and strongly by high curcuma. M-CSF was markedly increased by the high turmeric group, while RANTES rose only with low ginger. The IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio showed no change, indicating a low immune status under turmeric treatment despite heat stress.

The upregulation of HSP27 and HSP90 by curcuma points to enhanced protein refolding and cytoprotection, likely linked to antioxidant activity. The reduction of HSP70 reflects a better ability to counter oxidative stress. IL-6 findings suggest a concentration-dependent immune modulation by curcuma. IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was elevated under curcuma influence as a compensatory mechanism. The concurrent rise of pro-inflammatory IFN-γ contrasts with IL-10 elevation, but their unchanged ratio indicates limited overall immune activation.

In contrast, ginger did not affect HSPs or the three cytokines. Its only observed effect was RANTES elevation, which differs from previous reports of RANTES reduction under ginger, suggesting alternative mechanisms during heat stress requiring further study. M-CSF upregulation in high turmeric groups may enhance macrophage activity and liver protection via waste removal.

These results highlight curcuma’s potential to mitigate heat stress in poultry, while ginger showed little protective effect.

Further studies are needed to clarify mechanisms and assess practical applications in live animals.