Effect of dietary inclusion of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf powder and astaxanthin on productive performance, hematological and biochemical profiles, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota in broiler chickens

Saad Naji Nasser; Mehran Torki; Fadhil Rasoul Abbas Al-Khafaji; Shahab Ghazi Harsini; Ali Ahmad Alaw Qotbi

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0328784

Peer Review History

Original SubmissionApril 22, 2025
23 May 2025 Decision Letter - Sameh Abdelnour, Editor Dear Dr. Torki, Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS ONE. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS ONE’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process. Please submit your revised manuscript by Jul 07 2025 11:59PM. If you will need more time than this to complete your revisions, please reply to this message or contact the journal office at plosone@plos.org . When you're ready to submit your revision, log on to https://www.editorialmanager.com/pone/ and select the 'Submissions Needing Revision' folder to locate your manuscript file. A rebuttal letter that responds to each point raised by the academic editor and reviewer(s). You should upload this letter as a separate file labeled 'Response to Reviewers'. 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Additional Editor Comments: Dear Dr. Mehran Torki Have a good day The reviewer suggests revisions to your manuscript according to their feedback. Please carefully address all comments when you submit your revised manuscript. [Note: HTML markup is below. Please do not edit.] Reviewers' comments: Reviewer's Responses to Questions Comments to the Author 1. Is the manuscript technically sound, and do the data support the conclusions? Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ******** 2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously? -->?> Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ****** 3. Have the authors made all data underlying the findings in their manuscript fully available??> The PLOS Data policy Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ****** 4. Is the manuscript presented in an intelligible fashion and written in standard English??> Reviewer #1: Yes Reviewer #2: Yes ****** Reviewer #1: I have reviewed the manuscript thoroughly, and found it to be well-written and comprehensive. The authors have presented their findings clearly and effectively. The study's methodology is sound, and the results are well-supported by the data provided. The manuscript offers valuable insights into the effects of dietary supplementation with artichoke leaf powder and astaxanthin on broiler chickens, covering various aspects such as productive performance, hematological and biochemical profiles, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota. The discussion is thorough and provides a good interpretation of the results in the context of existing literature. I have made my comments and amendments using the Track Changes feature in the manuscript for clarity and ease of review. Overall, I believe this manuscript makes a significant contribution to the field and would be a valuable addition to the journal. Reviewer #2: Title: Diet inclusion of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf powder and astaxanthin and evaluating productive performance of broiler chickens, hematological and biochemical profiles, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota General Comments: The present study offers a compelling investigation into the synergistic effects of astaxanthin and artichoke leaf powder (ALP) on broiler chickens, with significant implications for poultry nutrition and health. By evaluating growth performance, hematological and biochemical parameters, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota, this research provides valuable insights into the potential of these natural supplements to enhance broiler productivity and metabolic health. The findings demonstrate that supplementation with 60 mg astaxanthin + 1 g ALP significantly improves growth performance, antioxidant status, lipid/uric acid metabolism, and gut microbial composition. Recommendation: Minor revision 1. Abstract: Add a brief introductory sentence to establish the relevance and benefits of natural feed additives in poultry production before presenting the study’s objectives. 2. Introduction: The introduction is well-structured, providing a solid background on broiler production challenges and the potential benefits of astaxanthin and ALP. 3. Materials and Methods: Overall, this section is clearly written and provides sufficient methodological detail. The statistical approaches are appropriate and well applied. 4. Results: - Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5: Consider consolidating these tables into a single comprehensive table showing growth performance variables (initial weight, final weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio) across all experimental periods. This would enhance readability and allow for easier comparison of treatment effects over time. - Tables 7, 8, and 9: It is recommended to convert these into graphical representations (bar or line graphs) to visually emphasize the trends and significant differences among treatment groups. - Ensure that the narrative of the Results section is updated accordingly to reflect the restructured tables and figures. 5. Discussion: The discussion is logically organized and provides a solid interpretation of the findings in the context of previous research. 6. Conclusion: Please revise this section for brevity and clarity. A more concise summary that highlights the most significant findings and practical implications of the study would be more impactful. ****** what does this mean? ). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files. If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public. Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy Reviewer #1: No Reviewer #2: No ******** [NOTE: If reviewer comments were submitted as an attachment file, they will be attached to this email and accessible via the submission site. Please log into your account, locate the manuscript record, and check for the action link "View Attachments". If this link does not appear, there are no attachment files.] While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com/ . PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Registration is free. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email PLOS at figures@plos.org Attachments Attachment Submitted filename: Revised, Dr Abo Manuscript (8)1.docx https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328784.r001
Revision 1
1 Jul 2025 Author Response The file of Response to Reviewers has been also uploaded. Reviewer #1: I have reviewed the manuscript thoroughly, and found it to be well-written and comprehensive. The authors have presented their findings clearly and effectively. The study's methodology is sound, and the results are well-supported by the data provided. The manuscript offers valuable insights into the effects of dietary supplementation with artichoke leaf powder and astaxanthin on broiler chickens, covering various aspects such as productive performance, hematological and biochemical profiles, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota. The discussion is thorough and provides a good interpretation of the results in the context of existing literature. I have made my comments and amendments using the Track Changes feature in the manuscript for clarity and ease of review. Overall, I believe this manuscript makes a significant contribution to the field and would be a valuable addition to the journal. Thank you for your thorough review and positive assessment of our manuscript. We truly appreciate you taking the time to provide such detailed comments and amendments via Track Changes. We want to assure you that we've carefully addressed every one of your suggestions and implemented all the indicated changes throughout the entire manuscript, which we believe has significantly enhanced its clarity and quality. How many replicates in each dietary treatment? Thank you for your question. Six replicates per treatment, 20 birds per replicate Instead of stating "T4 showed..." or "T2 exhibited...", I recommend using phrases that specify the group receiving the treatment. For example, you could say, "The group that received T3 showed higher BWG..." or "The group fed T2 exhibited the greatest increase in BWG...". This approach will make it clearer which groups are being referred to and improve the overall flow of your writing. Check the whole manuscript Thank you for this valuable suggestion. We have carefully reviewed and implemented this change throughout the entire manuscript. In this line and elsewhere: To maintain a formal and objective tone, it would be beneficial to avoid using personal pronouns such as "our findings" or "we found." Instead, you could use phrases like "The findings indicate..." or "It was observed that... Thank you for this valuable feedback. This change has been applied consistently to enhance the scientific impartiality of the writing. Reviewer #2: The present study offers a compelling investigation into the synergistic effects of astaxanthin and artichoke leaf powder (ALP) on broiler chickens, with significant implications for poultry nutrition and health. By evaluating growth performance, hematological and biochemical parameters, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota, this research provides valuable insights into the potential of these natural supplements to enhance broiler productivity and metabolic health. The findings demonstrate that supplementation with 60 mg astaxanthin + 1 g ALP significantly improves growth performance, antioxidant status, lipid/uric acid metabolism, and gut microbial composition. Recommendation: Minor revision Thank you for your very positive assessment of our manuscript. We're delighted to hear that you found our investigation into the synergistic effects of astaxanthin and artichoke leaf powder (ALP) on broiler chickens compelling, and that you recognize its significant implications for poultry nutrition and health. We've addressed all the points raised in your review, and all the suggested changes have been implemented throughout the manuscript. We believe these revisions have significantly enhanced the clarity and quality of our work. 1. Abstract: Add a brief introductory sentence to establish the relevance and benefits of natural feed additives in poultry production before presenting the study’s objectives. Thank you for your comment. We've added a brief introductory sentence to the abstract to introduce the relevance and benefits of natural feed additives in poultry production before diving into the study's objectives. 2. Introduction: The introduction is well-structured, providing a solid background on broiler production challenges and the potential benefits of astaxanthin and ALP. Thank you for your positive feedback on our introduction. 3. Materials and Methods: Overall, this section is clearly written and provides sufficient methodological detail. The statistical approaches are appropriate and well applied. Thank you for your positive assessment of our materials and methods section. 4. Results: - Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5: Consider consolidating these tables into a single comprehensive table showing growth performance variables (initial weight, final weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio) across all experimental periods. This would enhance readability and allow for easier comparison of treatment effects over time. Thank you for your suggestion. We’ve consolidated Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5 into a single, comprehensive Table 2. This new table now presents all growth performance variables—initial weight, final weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio—across all experimental periods. - Tables 7, 8, and 9: It is recommended to convert these into graphical representations (bar or line graphs) to visually emphasize the trends and significant differences among treatment groups. - Ensure that the narrative of the Results section is updated accordingly to reflect the restructured tables and figures. Thank you for your suggestion. We've converted Tables 7, 8, and 9 into bar graphs (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) to visually emphasize the trends and significant differences among treatment groups. We've also updated the narrative of the results section to accurately reflect these new figures and the restructured information. 5. Discussion: The discussion is logically organized and provides a solid interpretation of the findings in the context of previous research. Thank you for your positive feedback on our discussion section. 6. Conclusion: Please revise this section for brevity and clarity. A more concise summary that highlights the most significant findings and practical implications of the study would be more impactful. We've revised the conclusion section for brevity and clarity. The updated section now offers a more concise summary, highlighting only the most significant findings and the practical implications of our study to enhance its impact. Attachments Attachment Submitted filename: Response to Reviewers.docx https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328784.r002
8 Jul 2025 Decision Letter - Sameh Abdelnour, Editor Effect of dietary inclusion of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf powder and astaxanthin on productive performance, hematological and biochemical profiles, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota in broiler chickens PONE-D-25-20943R1 Dear Dr. Mehran Torki, We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements. Within one week, you’ll receive an e-mail detailing the required amendments. When these have been addressed, you’ll receive a formal acceptance letter and your manuscript will be scheduled for publication. An invoice will be generated when your article is formally accepted. Please note, if your institution has a publishing partnership with PLOS and your article meets the relevant criteria, all or part of your publication costs will be covered. Please make sure your user information is up-to-date by logging into Editorial Manager at Editorial Manager® and clicking the ‘Update My Information' link at the top of the page. If you have any questions relating to publication charges, please contact our Author Billing department directly at authorbilling@plos.org. If your institution or institutions have a press office, please notify them about your upcoming paper to help maximize its impact. If they’ll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team as soon as possible -- no later than 48 hours after receiving the formal acceptance. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. Kind regards, Sameh Abdelnour Academic Editor PLOS ONE Additional Editor Comments (optional): Authors addressed all the comments. Reviewers' comments: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328784.r003
Formally Accepted
Acceptance Letter - Sameh Abdelnour, Editor PONE-D-25-20943R1 PLOS ONE Dear Dr. Torki, I'm pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been deemed suitable for publication in PLOS ONE. Congratulations! Your manuscript is now being handed over to our production team. At this stage, our production department will prepare your paper for publication. This includes ensuring the following: * All references, tables, and figures are properly cited * All relevant supporting information is included in the manuscript submission, * There are no issues that prevent the paper from being properly typeset You will receive further instructions from the production team, including instructions on how to review your proof when it is ready. Please keep in mind that we are working through a large volume of accepted articles, so please give us a few days to review your paper and let you know the next and final steps. Lastly, if your institution or institutions have a press office, please let them know about your upcoming paper now to help maximize its impact. If they'll be preparing press materials, please inform our press team within the next 48 hours. Your manuscript will remain under strict press embargo until 2 pm Eastern Time on the date of publication. For more information, please contact onepress@plos.org. You will receive an invoice from PLOS for your publication fee after your manuscript has reached the completed accept phase. If you receive an email requesting payment before acceptance or for any other service, this may be a phishing scheme. Learn how to identify phishing emails and protect your accounts at https://explore.plos.org/phishing. If we can help with anything else, please email us at customercare@plos.org. Thank you for submitting your work to PLOS ONE and supporting open access. Kind regards, PLOS ONE Editorial Office Staff on behalf of Dr. Sameh Abdelnour Academic Editor PLOS ONE https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328784.r004

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