The effect of dietary vitamin E and verbascoside on meat quality and oxidative stability of Longissimus Dorsi muscle in medium-heavy pigs

Verbascoside: comprehensive review of a phenylethanoid macromolecule and its journey from nature to bench

Polyphenolic compounds are among the most widely researched compounds for various therapeutic applications. However, naturally occurring phenylethanoid glycosides are least explored under this class of compounds. One such phenylethanoid glycoside, verbascoside (Vb), abundantly found among 200 species of 23 families, has gained recent attention due to its wide-spectrum therapeutic properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, skin-protective, and anti-cancer. Despite having multiple therapeutic benefits, due to its large size, the compound has poor bioavailability for oral and topical applications. To meet these limitations, current research on Vb focuses on delivering it through nanoformulations. Presently, most developed formulations are liposome based for various applications, such as corneal epithelial wound healing, anti-neuropathic, anti-wrinkle, anti-hyperalgesia, atopic dermatitis, alopecia, and cutaneous wound healing. Multiple studies have confirmed the least acute and sub-acute toxicity for Vb. Few clinical studies have been performed for the therapeutic application of Vb to manage COVID-19, nephropathy, platelet aggregation, chronic primary glomerulonephritis, and acute hepatitis. Recent studies have shown the immense therapeutic potential of Vb in wound healing, dermatitis, neuroprotection, and anti-cancer activities, which creates a need for developing novel formulations for their respective uses. Long-term toxicity studies and techniques for scaling up Vb production by biotechnological approaches should be emphasized.

Verbascoside-Rich Plant Extracts in Animal Nutrition

In recent years, the search for dietary intervention with natural products able to sustain animal health and decrease environmental impact, has raised the number of studies pertaining to the use of plants' secondary metabolites. In fact, in livestock, there is a clear relationship between the animals' antioxidant status and the onset of some diseases that negatively affect animal welfare, health, and productive performance. An interesting compound that belongs to the secondary metabolites family of plants, named phenylpropanoids, is verbascoside. The genus Verbascum, which includes more than 233 plant species, is the genus in which this compound was first identified, but it has also been found in other plant extracts. Verbascoside exhibits several properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and neuroprotective properties, that have been evaluated mainly in in vitro studies for human health. The present work reviews the literature on the dietary integration of plant extracts containing verbascoside in livestock. The effects of dietary plant extracts containing verbascoside on the productive performance, antioxidant status, blood parameters, and meat quality in several animal species were evaluated. The present data point out that dietary plant extracts containing verbascoside appear to be a favorable dietary intervention to enhance health, antioxidant status, and product quality in livestock.

Sensory characteristics and volatile compounds of dry cured ham Speck are affected by pig dietary supplementation with antioxidant mixture

BACKGROUND

Dry cured ham named Speck is a typical Italian product, with consolidated processing techniques and specific quality parameters. It has gained importance in the international market after obtaining the Protected Geographical Indication. Recent studies indicate that dietary plant extracts in pig may affect quality of processed meats but there are no data on their effect on Speck. Consequently, the effects of dietary supplementation with antioxidant mixture (AOX), containing vitamin E and polyphenols, in pigs on the nutritional characteristics, volatile compounds, sensory properties and consumers' preference of Speck were evaluated.

RESULTS

The Speck weight loss during seasoning was lower in the AOX group, while products quality parameters were not affected by dietary treatments. Alcohol and terpenes concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) in the AOX samples than the control. Sensory profile revealed slight differences (P < 0.05) in Speck salty and sweet taste, whereas the consumer tests showed a higher (P < 0.05) preference, with mean score of seven, for Speck from pigs fed AOX.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide new insights on the quality parameters of Speck. Dietary integration with antioxidant mixture decreased Speck weight losses during seasoning. Volatile compounds concentrations and sensory profile were slightly affected by dietary treatment. The consumer test revealed that dietary antioxidants, increased the overall preference for Speck, and can potentially increase its consumption. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Single Dose of Synbiotics and Vitamins at Birth Affects Piglet Microbiota before Weaning and Modifies Post-Weaning Performance

Simple Summary

For pig producers, enhancing piglet performance and reinforcing their health is crucial to ensure the optimal development and welfare of the animals, and to reduce the use of antimicrobials. This study investigated the effect of a single-dose application of a supplement on piglet growth and health, and on their microbiota in the suckling period and after weaning. At birth, piglets from eight litters received a supplement containing two probiotic strains, prebiotics, vitamins, and immunoglobulins, while piglets from six other litters received a dose of water. The supplement given at birth improved post-weaning piglet growth and reduced post-weaning diarrhea. These better post-weaning performances seem to be related to slight changes in the microbiota in the suckling period but not in the post-weaning period. In the suckling period, supplemented piglets shared some growth-related taxa, such as bacteria from the Lactobacillus genus, that unsupplemented piglets did not share. The present study highlights the importance of early-life microbial colonization on the subsequent performance and health of piglets.

Abstract

Early-life microbial colonization is an important driver for the development and maturation of the gut. The present study aimed to determine whether a single-dose supplement given only at birth would improve piglet performance and modify their fecal microbiota during the suckling and post-weaning periods. At birth, piglets from eight litters received a supplement (SUP+) while piglets from six other litters received water (SUP−). All piglets were monitored until two weeks post-weaning, and fecal samples were collected on Day 16 of age and two weeks post-weaning (Day 39 ± 1). The supplementation resulted in an improvement of average daily gain during the whole experimental period, mainly due to a better growth and a reduction in the incidence of diarrhea in the post-weaning period. There were no differences in the abundance and diversity of the main taxa, although the supplementation increased the relative abundance of rare taxa, such as bacteria from the Saccharibacteria and Cyanobacteria phyla, and the Lentisphaeria class in the suckling period. In addition, at 16 days of age, SUP+ piglets had a more diverse core microbiota, with bacteria from the Lactobacillus genus being present in the core microbiota of SUP+ piglets and absent from SUP− piglets. Therefore, the enhanced growth performance and reduction in diarrhea seem to be related to changes in fecal microbiota during the suckling period rather than at two weeks post-weaning.

Responses of Pigs of Different Genotypes to a Variation in the Dietary Indispensable Amino Acid Content in Terms of Their Growth and Carcass and Meat Quality Traits

Simple Summary

The aim of the experiment was to study the response of pigs of different genotypes to a variation in their dietary amino acid allowance. Ninety-six crossbred barrows of two lean paternal genetic lines (Hypor Maxter and PIC 337) were housed in eight pens from body weight 60 to 145 kg and fed quasi ad libitum on feeds with either high or low ileal digestible indispensable amino acid contents. The high and low amino acid feeds were formulated to have the same standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine, methionine, tryptophan and threonine contents per unit of crude protein, but provided 9.4 to 8.0 (assumed to be non-limiting) or 8.5 to 6.5 (close to National Research Council recommendations) g/kg of SID lysine, respectively. The low amino acid feed reduced the estimated N excretion compared with the high, without affecting growth, carcass yield, carcass anatomical composition and meat quality traits. Genetic line had trivial effects and the amino acid level × genotype interaction was never significant. We concluded that the two pig genotypes did not differ sufficiently in growth potential and leanness to respond differently.

Abstract

We studied the response of pigs from two crossbred genetic lines (GL) in the 60 to 145 kg body weight interval to a variation in the indispensable amino acid (AA) content of their feed. Ninety-six barrows of two paternal GLs (Hypor Maxter and PIC 337) were housed in eight pens and fed quasi ad libitum on feeds differing in their standardized ileal digestible (SID) indispensable AA contents. Pigs in four pens received feeds containing 9.4 to 8.0 g/kg of SID Lys (HAA), considered non-limiting, while the others received feeds containing 8.5 to 6.5 g/kg of SID Lys (LAA). The two feeds had identical indispensable lysine, methionine, tryptophan and threonine contents per unit of crude protein (CP). Feed intake, growth, carcass weight, and the weights of the lean and fat cuts were recorded, and samples of longissimus lumborum were analyzed. Data were analyzed using a two-way factorial mixed model. The LAA feed lowered the estimated N excretion (p < 0.001) compared with HAA, without affecting growth, carcass or meat quality traits. Genetic line had trivial effects and the AA level × genotype interaction was never significant. The two pig genotypes did not differ sufficiently in growth potential and leanness to respond differently.

Functional analysis finds differences on the muscle transcriptome of pigs fed an n-3 PUFA-enriched diet with or without antioxidant supplementations

Supplementing pig diets with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) may produce meat products with an increased n-3 fatty acid content, and the combined antioxidants addition could prevent lipid oxidation in the feed. However, to date, the effects of these bioactive compounds at the molecular level in porcine skeletal muscle are mostly unknown. This study aimed to analyse changes in the Longissimus thoracis transcriptome of 35 pigs fed three diets supplemented with: linseed (L); linseed, vitamin E and Selenium (LES) or linseed and plant-derived polyphenols (LPE). Pigs were reared from 80.8 ± 5.6 kg to 151.8 ± 9.9 kg. After slaughter, RNA-Seq was performed and 1182 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were submitted to functional analysis. The L vs LES comparison did not show differences, while L vs LPE showed 1102 DEGs and LES vs LPE 80 DEGs. LPE compared to the other groups showed the highest number of up-regulated genes involved in preserving muscle metabolism and structure. Results enlighten that the combined supplementation of bioactive lipids (n-3 PUFA from linseed) with plant extracts as a source of polyphenols increases, compared to the only addition of linseed, the expression of genes involved in mRNA metabolic processes and transcriptional regulation, glucose uptake and, finally, in supporting muscle development and physiology. These results improve the knowledge of the biological effect of bioactive compounds in Longissimus thoracis muscle, and sustain the growing interest over their use in pig production.

Dietary lycopene powder improves meat oxidative stability in Hu lambs

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary lycopene powder on meat quality and the oxidative stability of lipid and protein of longissimus thoracis (LT) in lamb. A total of 30 male lambs were randomly sampled from three feeding groups (control without lycopene supplement, 200 and 400 mg kg^-1 lycopene powder respectively) after 3 months of feeding. The muscle samples were taken after slaughter and stored at 4 °C for 7 days.

RESULTS

Compared with the control, the results showed that supplementation with lycopene powder gave a higher a^* value (redness), and increased the levels of vitamin A and vitamin E. Increasing dietary lycopene powder resulted in a lower degree of lipid and protein oxidation, as evidenced by lower contents of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance and carbonyl compounds, and higher levels of sulfhydryl groups.

CONCLUSION

Dietary lycopene powder is an effective antioxidant that blocks the oxidation of meat proteins and lipids, and has a positive effect on increasing lamb meat quality during storage. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of feed allowance and indispensable amino acid reduction on feed intake, growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing pigs

The hypothesis that pigs placed on diets with reduced indispensable amino acid (AA) content attempts to offset the reduction in the nutrient density with increased feed intake was tested. In the experiment, feeds with a high or a low AA content were administrated to pigs fed ad-libitum or restrictively according to a 2 × 2 factorial design. Ninety-six barrows were housed in 8 pens (12 pigs/pen) equipped with automatic feeders. Within pen, and from 47 body weight (BW) onwards, 6 pigs were fed ad libitum. The others pigs were allowed to consume, as a maximum, the feed amounts indicated by the breeding company feeding plane to optimize the feed efficiency. In early (86-118 kg BW) and late (118-145 kg BW) finishing, the pigs of 4 pens received feeds with high indispensable AA contents (8.1 and 7.5 g lysine/kg in the two periods, respectively). The other pigs received feeds with reduced indispensable AA contents (lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan) by 9 and 18% in early and late finishing, respectively. Body lipid and protein (Pr) retentions were estimated from BW and back-fat depth measures recorded at the beginning and the end of each period. Nitrogen excretion was estimated as actual intake minus estimated N-retention (Pr/6.25). Pigs were slaughtered at 144 kg BW. Restricted feeding decreased feed intake (-7%), daily gain (-5%), carcass weight (-2.6%) and back-fat depth (-8.0%) but increased gain:feed ratio (+2%). The AA restriction increased feed intake (+5.9%), carcass weight (+4.9%) and intramuscular fat (+17.6%), and reduced carcass weight variation (-36%), with no effects on the feed efficiency and the estimated Pr (142 g/d). N excreted was reduced by feed (-9%) and dietary AA (-15%) restrictions. Irrespectively of the feeding level, the pigs responded to a reduction of the dietary essential AA content by increasing their feed intake.

Effects of dietary coated cysteamine hydrochloride on pork color in finishing pigs

BACKGROUND

Coated cysteamine hydrochloride (CC) was applied as a feed additive in animal production. The influence and the mechanisms of CC used as a feed additive in promoting meat quality in finishing pigs were investigated.

RESULTS

Dietary CC supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the a* and H* values and reduced (P < 0.05) the L* value in the longissimus dorsi muscles at 48 h postmortem (P < 0.05). The deoxymyoglobin content was enhanced (P < 0.05) and the metmyoglobin and malondialdehyde contents were reduced (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the dietary CC. Pigs fed a dietary CC of 0.035 g kg^-1 had a lower cooking loss (P < 0.05) and a higher a* (24 h) value in the longissimus dorsi muscles than pigs on control treatment. The messenger RNA expression of superoxide dismutase 1 was upregulated (P < 0.05) in the longissimus dorsi.

CONCLUSION

Dietary supplementation with CC could improve antioxidant status and delay meat discoloration by improving glutathione levels and antioxidase activity after longer chill storage (for 48 h after slaughter). Dietary supplementation with CC at 0.035 g kg^-1 may promote the stability of pork color by reducing oxidation. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cytogenetic tests reveal no toxicity in lymphocytes of rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus, 2n=44) feed in presence of verbascoside and/or lycopene

Phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPG), like other phenolic compounds, are a powerful antioxidants and the Verbascoside (VB) is one of the most active of them. A previous study, by using in vitro exposure of blood human lymphocytes to Verbascoside, reported a significant increasings of chromosome fragility compared to control. In the present study, four homogeneous groups of rabbits were used to test in vivo the VB and/or Lycopene (LP) by feeding the animals without VB and LP (control), in presence of VB or/and LP for 80 days. Lymphocyte cell cultures were performed in three different times: 0, 40 and 80 days of the experiment and the cytogenetic tests that we used [CA-test (Chromosome Abnormalities in terms of chromosome and chromatid breaks) and Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE-test)] have revealed no mutagenic effects on chromosomes. Indeed, mean values/cell of CA and SCE decreased during the experiment with some difference among and within groups, with significant decreasing value only for some group. The study shows clear evidence that diets rich in Verbascoside (and/or Lycopene) do not originate any mutagenic activity, resulting no cytotoxic for the animals and, suggesting a possible their use in both animal and human diets.

Effects of antioxidant mixtures in the diet of finishing pigs on the oxidative status and shelf life of longissimus dorsi muscle packaged under modified atmosphere

The effect of pig dietary supplementation with an antioxidant mixture (AOX), containing vitamin E and verbascoside, on animal oxidative status, meat quality parameters, and shelf life of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle was examined. Seventy pigs with an average live weight of 95.2 ± 1.2 kg were selected and assigned to 2 dietary treatments. The control (CTR) group was fed a commercial diet, and the AOX group was fed the same diet supplemented with the AOX, containing vitamin E and verbascoside from Verbenaceae extract, for 45 d before slaughter. At the beginning and at the end of the trial, blood samples were collected to determine oxidative status, using the Kit Radicaux Libres test. At slaughter, carcass weight was recorded and LD muscles from 10 pigs per treatment were sampled. Physical, chemical, microbiological, and sensory parameters and oxidative stability of LD muscle were assessed for up to 21 d of storage at 4°C under modified atmosphere packaging. Dietary AOX positively affected ( < 0.05) oxidative status and carcass dressing percentage. The oxidative and color stability of the LD muscle were improved ( < 0.05) in the AOX group compared with the control. The sensory shelf life revealed that at 15 d of storage, meat from the AOX group was comparable ( < 0.05) to the fresh meat in appearance and aroma. A lower ( < 0.05) spp. load was observed in the AOX samples than in the control samples. No other microbiological parameters were affected by dietary treatment. Overall, the present data showed that dietary AOX supplementation in pigs improved in vivo antioxidant status and exerted antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, thus enhancing the shelf life of raw pork under commercial conditions.

Effect of dietary plant extract on meat quality and sensory parameters of meat from Equidae

BACKGROUND

Plant extracts as Lippia spp. have been proven antioxidant properties. Recent studies have been shown that dietary supplementation with plant extracts is able to enhance meat quality parameters. Studies regarding meat quality in Equidae are limited.

RESULTS

The effect of dietary plant extract (PE), containing verbascoside, on meat quality, oxidative stability and sensory parameters of Longissimus Lumborum (LL) muscle in Equidae was studied. Dietary treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) pH, colour indices and chemical parameters of muscle in both donkey and horse. Dietary PE improved (P < 0.01) oxidative stability in donkey muscle during refrigerated storage. Sensory characteristics of LL muscle were positively affected (P < 0.05) by dietary PE in both donkey and horse. In particular, colour, taste and texture were enhanced in LL muscle from animals fed PE. Oxidative stability was lower (P < 0.05) in LL muscle of horse than that of donkey.

CONCLUSION

Dietary plant extract, containing verbascoside, can be considered as a natural source of antioxidants, and is also able to improve oxidative stability of donkey meat and to affect the sensory attributes of Equidae meat. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.