This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with nettle (Urtica dioica) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) as an antibiotic growth promoter on serum antioxidant capacity and immunity of broiler chicks. A total of 450 day-old broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments with five replicates. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet as control; antibiotic growth promoter, 100 mg/kg vitamin E, 2 g/kg nettle powder; 4 g/kg ginger powder and 2 g/kg ginger+2 g/kg nettle powder. At day 8 Newcastle and Influenza viruses were injected and at day 25 two birds per pen selected and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were injected to venous, and then at day 30 antibody titer against Newcastle, Influenza and SRBC were measured. At day 42, two broilers were selected and blood samples were collected for determination serum antioxidant capacity. Antibody titers against Newcastle and Influenza viruses and SRBC were not significantly influenced by dietary treatments (P>0.05). Serum antioxidant capacity significantly elevated by nettle or ginger (P< 0.05). In conclusion, nettle or ginger cannot be used as an immunomodulator but can improve serum antioxidant capacity of broiler chicks.
