| Summary: | This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 1,8-cineole on antioxidant capacity, immunity, and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 540 1-day-old Arbor Acres (AA) male broilers were randomly divided into five treatments with six replicates per treatment, and 18 broilers per replicate for 42 days. Dietary treatments were a corn–soybean meal basal diet supplemented with 0, and 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/kg 1,8-cineole, respectively. Dietary supplementation with 20~30 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole increased the ADG from d 22 to 42 and d 1 to 42 (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and decreased the FCR (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of 10~40 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole increased total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) in serum (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver on day 21 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The supplementation of 20~30 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole increased the activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the serum and liver and TAOC in the serum and the liver (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and decreased the level of MDA in the serum and the liver (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on day 42. Dietary supplementation with 20~30 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole increased serum immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin M contents on day 21 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). On day 21, dietary supplementation of 20~30 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole increased the VH and VH/CD (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the jejunum and ileum. The supplementation of 20~30 mg/kg of 1,8-cineole increased the content of secretory immunoglobulin A in the duodenum and ileum mucosa on d 42 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 1,8-cineole improves the growth performance of broilers by enhancing antioxidant capacity, immunity, and intestinal morphology.
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