Dietary green tea powder supplementation enriched egg nutrients and physicochemical property in an indigenous chicken breed

High albumen height by expression of GALNT9 and thin eggshell by decreased Ca2+ transportation caused high hatchability in Huainan partridge chicken

Hatchability could be quite different among individuals of indigenous chicken breed which might be affected by the egg quality. In this study, hatchability was individually recorded among 800 forty-wk-old Huainan partridge chickens. The chickens were then divided into high and low hatchability groups (HH and LH group) with 50 birds in each group. Egg quality was further determined in the 2 groups. Eight birds from each group were selected for slaughtering and tissue, responsible for egg formation, collection for structure observation by staining and candidate gene expression by transcriptome analysis. The hatchability in HH was 100% and 61.18% in LH. The eggshell thickness and shell strength were significantly lower, while the albumen height and Haugh unit were significantly higher in HH group than those in LH group (P < 0.05). The magnum weight and index, and the expression of polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 9 (GALNT9), which responsible for thick albumen synthesis, in HH group were also significantly higher than that of LH group (P < 0.05). Compared with the LH group, there were 702 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HH group, of which 402 were up-regulated and 300 were down-regulated. Candidate genes of calbindin 1 (CALB1) and solute carrier family 26 member 9 (SLC26A9), which regulate calcium signaling pathway so as to affect Ca2+ transportation, exhibited significant high and low expression, respectively, in HH group compared to those in LH group (P < 0.05). Therefore, indigenous chicken with high expression of GALNT9 in magnum to form thick albumen to provide more protein for embryo, while high CALB1 and low expression of SLC26A9 to decrease Ca2+ transportation so as to form a thinner eggshell and provide better gas exchange during embryo development.

Synthetic and phytogenic antioxidants improve productive performance, antioxidant activity, gene expression, and offspring quality in breeder hens subjected to heat stress

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a synthetic source (a combination of vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, and L-carnitine) and phytogenic sources (a combination of clove, green tea pomace, and Vietnamese coriander) in overcoming heat stress (HS) damage in female breeder hens on production, blood chemistry, sperm survival in the oviduct, antioxidant properties, gene expression, and quality of offspring. One hundred SUT female breeder hens were housed in individual cages and divided into 4 treatment groups: T1) basal diets in the thermoneutral (TN) zone; T2) basal diets under HS; 3) basal diets with synthetic antioxidants under HS; and T4) basal diets with phytochemical antioxidants under HS. The result revealed that HS condition had a negative effect on reducing final body weight, egg weight, and 1-day-old chick weight while increasing water intake and FCR and altered blood chemicals in breeder hens compared to TN breeder hens (P < 0.05). However, either synthetic or phytogenic antioxidants resulted in increased egg production and hatchability, while decreasing the number of late stages of embryo death during the incubation (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the synthetic antioxidants also improved the uniformity of chicks and reduced late-stage embryo death compared with phytogenic antioxidants (P < 0.05). HS breeder hens fed with either of the antioxidant sources exhibited higher antioxidant capacity in terms of DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging (in yolk, liver, and breast meat) and FRAP radical scavenging (in yolk and liver) and lower liver malondialdehyde than HS breeder hens fed with the control diet (P < 0.05). Additionally, the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) in the liver was upregulated, whereas the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (nuclear factor-κB) and heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90) was downregulated in breeder hens that received both antioxidant sources (P < 0.05). Future investigations should focus on the potential for combinations of synthetic and phytogenic antioxidants in diets for HS breeder hens.

Effects of green tea powder on production performance, egg quality, and blood biochemical parameters in laying hens

The paper aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of green tea powder (GTP) on laying performance, egg quality, and blood biochemical parameters of laying hens. A total of 240 Jingfen No. 6 laying hens (age, 24 wk) were randomly allocated into 4 groups: control group (CON, basal diet), GTP0.5, GTP0.75, and GTP1.0 (basal diet included 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0% GTP, respectively). Each group has 5 replicates with 12 birds each. The feeding trial lasted 8 wk. The results showed that the hen-day egg production rate in GTP0.5 and GTP 0.75 group was higher than that of GTP1.0 group (P < 0.05), hen-day egg production rate in the GTP1.0 group was lower compared to the CON group (P > 0.05), the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the GTP0.75 group was lower than that in CON and GTP 1.0 group (P < 0.05) during the entire experimental period. Albumen height and Haugh unit were higher in the GTP0.75 and GTP1.0 group compared to the CON group at d 56 (P < 0.05). At the end of experiment, plasma TG content in the GTP0.75 and GTP1.0 group was lower than that in the CON group (P < 0.05), the T-CH concentration in the GTP0.5 and GTP0.75 group was lower compared to the CON group (P < 0.05), plasma LDL-C and CORT concentrations were decreased by dietary GTP supplementation (P < 0.05), the HDL-C and BUN concentrations in the GTP0.75 and GTP1.0 group were higher than that in the CON group (P < 0.05). The antibody titers of H5N1 in the GTP0.75 and GTP1.0 group, and H7N9 in the GTP1.0 group were lower than that in the CON group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary GTP inclusion could affect laying performance, regulate lipid metabolism, and have no favorable influence on antibody titers of H5N1 and H7N9, herein, dietary 0.5% GTP inclusion is suggested for Jingfen No. 6 laying hens during the peak laying period.

Does supplementing laying hen diets with a herb mixture mitigate the negative impacts of excessive inclusion of extruded flaxseed?

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of extruded flaxseed with and without herbs mixture on egg performance, yolk fatty acids (FAs), lipid components, blood biochemistry, serological enzymes, antioxidants, and immune system of Hy-Line W-36 hens for nine weeks.

METHODS

Two hundred forty laying hens were randomly distributed to eight treatments, resulting in six replicates with five hens. Graded levels of dietary extruded flaxseed (0, 90, 180, and 270 g/kg) with and without herbs mixture (24 g/kg: garlic, ginger, green tea, and turmeric 6 g/kg each) were designed as treatments.

RESULTS

The two-way analysis of variance indicated that hens fed herbs mixture had a higher value of egg production, yolk high-density lipoprotein (HDL), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and white blood cell and lower contents of yolk cholesterol, glucose, and blood low-density lipoprotein than those fed diets without herb mixtures (p<0.05). The Flx27 (270 g/kg flaxseed) (153.5 g/kg n-3 FAs) and Flx27+H (270 g/kg flaxseed plus 24 g/kg herbs mixture) (150.5 g/kg n-3 FAs) groups were the most promising treatments in terms of yolk n-3 FAs content. In-teraction effect (herbs- flaxseed) for blood cholesterol, HDL, malondialdehyde, glutaredoxin, alanine transaminase, (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), haemoglobin and immune parameters was significant (p<0.05). The results showed layers fed herbs mixture (Flx9+H, Flx18+H, and Flx27+H) had a better value of total antibody, immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, ALT, AST, and blood HDL as compared with representative flaxseed levels without herbs.

CONCLUSION

High inclusion levels of extruded flaxseed (270 g/kg) without herbs to enrich eggs with n-3 appears to impair the antioxidant system, immunohematological parameters, and sero-logical enzymes. Interestingly, the herbs mixture supplementation corrected those effects. Therefore, feeding layers with flaxseed-rich diets (270 g/kg) and herbs mixture can be a promising strategy to enrich eggs with n-3 FAs.

Antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effects of selected edible plants in Southeast Asia for further use as phytogenic antioxidant additives

Excessive free radicals in human and animal bodies can cause oxidative stress (OS) which damages cells and tissues. Plant materials with high antioxidant potential would resolve the OS problem. Thus, this study proposed to investigate the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), antioxidant capacities and cytotoxicity in 17 edible plant materials from herbs, fruits, vegetables and plant by-products available in Southeast Asia for future use in the food or feed industry. Among 17 plant materials, Syzygium aromaticum (clove), Camellia sinensi (green tea pomace) from the beverage industry and Persicaria odorata (Vietnamese coriander) showed a prominent amount of TPC and TFC. These three plants and their combination (1:1:1 ratio, v:v:v) also possessed a remarkable antioxidant function in terms of DPPH, ABTS and FRAP, as well as showing a strong ROS inhibition through HepG2 cells. The cytotoxicity test of the crude extract of clove, green tea pomace and Vietnamese coriander, or their combination can be used between 0.032 and 0.255, 0.011 to 0.088, 0.022 to 0.178 and 0.021 to 0.346 mg/mL, respectively, without impeding cell viability. A combined mixture of clove, green tea pomace and Vietnamese coriander revealed the synergistic properties of antioxidants and cell safety. This indicates that there is a potential use of various antioxidant bioactive compounds in plant materials tested for use as phytogenic antioxidant additives.

Natural Products of Plants and Animal Origin Improve Albumen Quality of Chicken Eggs

Albumen quality is recognized as one of the major yardsticks in measuring egg quality. The elasticity of thick albumen, a strong bond in the ovomucin-lysozyme complex, and excellent biological properties are indicators of high-quality albumen. The albumen quality prior to egg storage contribute to enhance egg’s shelf life and economic value. Evidence suggests that albumen quality can deteriorate due to changes in albumen structure, such as the degradation of β-ovomucin subunit and O-glyosidic bonds, the collapse of the ovomucin-lysozyme complex, and a decrease in albumen protein-protein interaction. Using organic minerals, natural plants and animal products with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, high biological value, no residue effect and toxicity risk could improve albumen quality. These natural products (e.g., tea polyphenols, marigold extract, magnolol, essential oils, Upro (small peptide), yeast cell wall, Bacillus species, a purified amino acid from animal blood, and pumpkin seed meal) are bio-fortified into eggs, thus enhancing the biological and technological function of the albumen. Multiple strategies to meeting laying hens’ metabolic requirements and improvement in albumen quality are described in this review, including the use of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, essential oils, prebiotics, probiotics, organic trace elements, and phytogenic as feed additives. From this analysis, natural products can improve animal health and consequently albumen quality. Future research should focus on effects of these natural products in extending shelf life of the albumen during storage and at different storage conditions. Research in that direction may provide insight into albumen quality and its biological value in fresh and stored eggs.

Bioactivity of Cooked Standard and Enriched Whole Eggs from White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red in Exhibiting In-Vitro Antioxidant and ACE-Inhibitory Effects

Hen breed, diet enrichment, cooking methods, and gastrointestinal (GI) digestion modulates the bioaccessibility of the bioactive compounds in eggs, but their synergistic role in modulating bioactivity is still unclear. The present study evaluates the effect of hen breed, diet enrichment, and GI digestion on the cooked whole egg-derived peptides in-vitro antioxidant and antihypertensive activities. Standard and enriched whole eggs from White Leghorn (WLH) and Rhode Island Red (RIR) hens were boiled or fried and subjected to GI digestion. Antioxidant activity was measured through oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and gastrointestinal epithelial cell-based assays, and the antihypertensive capacity by in-vitro Angiotensin-I Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibition assay. WLH fried standard egg hydrolysate showed a high ORAC antioxidant activity but failed to show any significant antioxidant effect in the cell-based assay. No significant differences were observed in the antihypertensive activity, although enriched samples tended to have a higher ACE-inhibitory capacity. The peptide profile explained the antioxidant capacities based on antioxidant structural requirements from different peptide fractions, while previously reported antihypertensive peptides were found in all samples. The study validates the importance of physiologically relevant models and requires future studies to confirm mechanisms that yield bioactive compounds in whole egg hydrolysates.