Effect of dietary supplementation of astaxanthin byPhaffia rhodozymaon lipid peroxidation, drug metabolism and some immunological variables in male broiler chicks fed on diets with or without oxidised fat

Effect of chelated source of additional zinc and selenium on performance, yolk fatty acid composition, and oxidative stability in laying hens fed with oxidised oil

1. The following study determined whether the effects of the combined addition of zinc amino acid complex (ZA) and selenomethionine (SM) was superior to their single addition in controlling the oxidative stress induced by dietary oxidised fat in laying hens.2. Two hundred and forty 32-week-old laying hens were divided into the following dietary treatments (each consisting of six replicates of eight birds): 1) a fresh soy oil (FSO) diet; 2) an oxidised soy oil (OSO) diet; 3) an OSO diet plus 20 mg zinc as ZA/kg (OSO+ZA); 4) an OSO diet plus 0.2 mg selenium as SM/kg (OSO+SM); and 5) an OSO diet plus ZA and SM (OSO+ZA+SM).3. After 10 weeks of feeding hens, feed intake, egg production, and egg mass in the OSO+ZA+SM group were similar to the FSO group but better (P<0.05) than those in the OSO group. Shell thickness and shell breaking strength were significantly improved by the OSO+ZA and OSO+ZA+SM treatments.4. Increases in the yolk concentrations of palmitic acid and total saturated fatty acids (SFA), and decreases in yolk linoleic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total PUFA, and PUFA/SFA ratio were induced by dietary oxidised fat which were normalised (P<0.05) by OSO+SM and OSO+ZA+SM.5. An increase (P<0.05) in malondialdehyde and a decrease in 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity in the yolk, induced by dietary oxidised fat, was significantly improved by all dietary supplementations, but only birds fed the OSO+ZA+SM diet exhibited similar values to those fed FSO.6. In conclusion, the simultaneous inclusion of organic zinc plus selenium in the oxidised fat diets was beneficial for improving egg-laying performance, yolk fatty acid profile, and oxidative stability, but not for internal egg quality, compared with either zinc or selenium alone in laying hens.

Nutritional management of dairy animals for sustained production under heat stress scenario

Dairy industry plays a significant role in the agriculture sector for sustainable growth. Heat stress, on the other hand, has been proven to have a detrimental impact on dairy output in terms of growth, reproductive performance and milk production in dairy animals, especially in tropical areas. Heat stress is one of the most significant issues facing the dairy industry, as rising temperatures and humidity limit animal productivity throughout the summer, resulting in devastating economic repercussions. The purpose of this review is to gather knowledge on the effects of heat stress on dairy output and how to ameliorate them. The diversion of energy resources from the production to the adaptation pathway may be responsible for the loss in productive capacity of dairy animals, when they are exposed to heat stress. There are different approaches pertaining to relieving the adverse effects of heat stress on dairy production system. These approaches may be classified into three major categories viz. genetic, management and nutritional interventions. These approaches might help dairy animals to perform better by reducing the harmful impacts of heat stress. Appropriate shelter design, giving shade, employing sprinklers, installing cooling devices, and using fans and ventilation systems are among the management strategies. The nutritional interventions comprise ration balancing and providing essential micronutrients to improve the productive and reproductive performance. Some of the most widely used dietary measures to ensure optimal production are inclusion of protein or fat (prill fat), micronutrients antioxidants (vitamins and minerals) and some feed additives (Astaxanthin, betaine, melatonin, Chlorophytum borivilianum) in the diet. These antioxidants and feed additives can be used to attenuate the negative effects of environmental stress. Furthermore, providing adequate energy and antioxidants help to ensure optimum growth, milk production and reproduction efficiency during heat stress. This review provides an overview of the consequences of heat stress on dairy animals, emphasizes essential nutritional strategies for heat stress reduction in dairy animals, and evaluates the influence of various feed supplements on growth, productivity and physiology.

Metabolic engineering for high yield synthesis of astaxanthin in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid with a number of assets useful for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, it is mainly produced by chemical synthesis. However, the process leads to an enantiomeric mixture where the biologically assimilable forms (3R, 3'R or 3S, 3'S) are a minority. Microbial production of (3R, 3'R) astaxanthin by Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous is an appealing alternative due to its fast growth rate and easy large-scale production. In order to increase X. dendrorhous astaxanthin yields, random mutant strains able to produce from 6 to 10 mg/g dry mass have been generated; nevertheless, they often are unstable. On the other hand, site-directed mutant strains have also been obtained, but they increase only the yield of non-astaxanthin carotenoids. In this review, we insightfully analyze the metabolic carbon flow converging in astaxanthin biosynthesis and, by integrating the biological features of X. dendrorhous with available metabolic, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data, as well as the knowledge gained with random and site-directed mutants that lead to increased carotenoids yield, we propose new metabolic engineering targets to increase astaxanthin biosynthesis.

Astaxanthin supplementation enriches productive performance, physiological and immunological responses in laying hens

Objective

Astaxanthin is a natural super antioxidant. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of astaxanthin rich Phaffia rhodozyma (PR) supplementation in diets on laying production performance, egg quality, antioxidant defenses and immune defenses in laying hens.

Methods

A total of five hundred and twelve 60-week-old Lohmann Brown laying hens (2,243±12 g) were randomly assigned to four groups, each including 4 replicates with 32 birds per replicate. Astaxanthin rich PR was added to corn-soybean meal diets to produce experimental diets containing 0 (Control), 800 mg/kg, 1,200 mg/kg, and 1,600 mg/kg PR, respectively. The astaxanthin content in the diet was 0.96 mg/kg, 1.44 mg/kg and 1.92 mg/kg respectively.

Results

Results showed that dietary PR supplementation tended to increase daily feed intake (p = 0.0512). There was no effect of astaxanthin rich PR on Haugh units, albumen height, egg shape index, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness at weeks 6 (p>0.05). However, egg yolk color was significantly improved (p<0.05). In addition, astaxanthin rich PR supplementation significantly increased serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity (p<0.05), increased serum immunoglobulin G content (p<0.05), and reduced malondialdehyde content (p<0.05) in laying hens.

Conclusion

In conclusion, astaxanthin rich PR can improve the color of egg yolk, enhance the antioxidant defenses, and regulate the immune function.

Effects of astaxanthin produced by Phaffia rhodozyma on growth performance, antioxidant activities, and meat quality in Pekin ducks

This study was conducted to determine the effect of astaxanthin (AX) produced by Phaffia rhodozyma (PR) on growth performance, antioxidant activities, relative organ weight, and meat quality in Pekin ducks. A total of 1,440 female one-day-old Pekin ducklings (52.3 ± 0.4 g) were blocked based on body weight (BW), and randomly allotted to 3 treatments with 8 replicates of 60 birds each. The experiment lasted for 6 wk, and dietary treatments included corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 0.15, and 0.3% PR. The supplementation of AX increased (P < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG) linearly and reduced (P < 0.05) feed-to-gain ratio (F/G) linearly during days 22 to 42. BWG and final BW was increased (P < 0.05) linearly by AX supplementation throughout the experiment. The inclusion of AX increased (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidative capacity, and interleukin-6 in the serum linearly, as well as decreased (P < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde linearly. The relative weight of abdominal fat was increased (P < 0.05) linearly by AX supplementation. The inclusion of AX decreased (P < 0.05) cook loss linearly, but increased (P < 0.05) pH24h, water holding capacity and redness (a*) linearly. Taken together, the supplementation of AX (3.458 or 6.915 mg/kg diet) from PR improved final BW, BWG during days 22 to 42 and 1 to 42 and reduced F/G during days 22 to 42, as well as caused positive effects on antioxidant function and meat quality.

Inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway by astaxanthin supplementation for prevention of heat stress-induced inflammatory changes and apoptosis in Karan Fries heifers

Present study was conducted on 12 Karan Fries (Holstein Friesian X Tharparkar) heifers (10-12 months) to assess the effect of astaxanthin supplementation on heat stress amelioration and inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway for prevention of heat stress-induced inflammatory changes and apoptosis in the cell during the summer season. The heifers were randomly and equally divided into two groups, i.e., control (fed as per ICAR 2013) and treatment groups (additionally supplemented astaxanthin at a dose rate of 0.25 mg/kg BW/day/animal). Temperature humidity index used to assess the levels of summer stress during the experimental period. Blood samples were collected at the fortnightly interval for quantification of plasma cortisol and IL-12 from both the groups of the heifers and from collected blood samples, RNA was isolated and transcribed into cDNA for real time PCR, for genes expression of NF-κB, IL-2, caspase-3, and Bcl-2. Plasma cortisol, IL-12 levels, and expression pattern of NF-κB, IL-2, and caspase-3 were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower in treatment group of Karan Fries heifers than control group, whereas, Bcl-2 was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in astaxanthin supplemented group. The temperature humidity index had a positive correlation (P ≤ 0.05) with plasma cortisol and IL-12 and expression pattern of NF-κB, IL-2, and caspase-3. However, it was negatively correlated with Bcl-2. The supplementation of astaxanthin can ameliorate the impact of summer stress through NF-κB downregulation, might be due to the quenching of free radicals, which regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and apoptotic genes.

Astaxanthin increases progesterone production in cultured bovine luteal cells

Although astaxanthin (AST) is known to be a strong antioxidant, its effects on reproductive function in domestic animals have not yet been elucidated in detail. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AST on luteal cells, which produce progesterone (P4), an important hormone for maintaining pregnancy. Luteal cells were prepared by collagenase dispersion of the corpus luteum (CL). The addition of racemic AST at a low concentration (<10 nM) to cultured bovine luteal cells increased P4 in the culture medium (P<0.05). This effect was attributed to an increase in the ability of luteal cells to produce P4 (P4/cell·DNA); however, the level of lipid peroxide (TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) per cell did not decrease with the addition of AST, whose values were similar to that with the addition of luteinizing hormone. When optical isomers of AST (SS and RR types) were added to the culture medium, respectively, SS-AST was more effective in increasing P4 production than RR-AST. When 1 mg/kg·body weight of SS-AST derived from green algae was fed to cows for 2 weeks, its concentration in blood plasma was 10.9 nM on average, which was sufficient to expect an in vitro effect on the production of P4 in cows. These results suggested the potential of SS-AST supplements for cows to elevate luteal function.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Astaxanthin on Histamine Induced Lesions in the Gizzard and Proventriculus of Broiler Chicks

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a xanthophyll pigment isolated from crustaceans and salmonids. Owing to its powerful antioxidant activity, ASX has been reported to have the potential to protect against gastric ulcers and a variety of other illnesses. Histamine (His) is a dietary factor that causes gastric erosion and ulceration in young chicks. In this study, we examined whether ASX had protective effects on dietary histamine-induced lesions in the gizzard and proventriculus of broiler chickens. Four experimental treatment groups were planned: basal diet (BD), BD+His, BD+ASX, and BD+ASX+His, with four chicks (5 days old) in each group and three replications (i.e., a total of 12 chicks per group). The BD was supplemented with either 0.4% His or 100 ppm ASX. The birds were fed ad libitum for 3 weeks, and diets contained no antimicrobial compounds. Supplementing the diet with His significantly decreased body weight gain, but increased the weights of the gizzard and proventriculus of the chicks as compared with those of chicks in the BD group (p<0.05). ASX did not affect His-dependent changes in chick body weight or weights of the gizzard and proventriculus. The loss of gastric glands in the proventriculus, which was observed in His-treated chicks, was not prevented by ASX administration. The frequency of proventricular ulceration, however, was lowered by treatment with ASX, without significant differences between the two supplementation levels. In conclusion, our data showed that ASX might be helpful for alleviating structural damage to the digestive system in poultry under certain stressful conditions.

Effects of astaxanthin and esterified glucomannan on hematological and serum parameters, and liver pathological changes in broilers fed aflatoxin-B1-contaminated feed

The effects of astaxanthin (ASTA) and esterified glucomannan (EMG) on hematological and serum parameters, and liver pathological changes in broilers fed on aflatoxin-B1 (AFB1) contaminated diet were investigated. Two hundred and forty 10-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments including: (i) control diet; (ii) AFB1-contaminated diet; (iii) AFB1 + EGM diet; (iv) AFB1 + ASTA diet; and (v) AFB1 + EGM + ASTA diet. At 35 days old, blood and liver tissue samples were collected for analysis. Results indicated that total white blood cell (WBC) number, hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration, hematocrit (Hct) level, serum alanine amino transferase (AST) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities, red blood cell (RBC) number, serum globulin (GLB) and urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations (P < 0.05) were increased by feeding AFB1-contaminated diet. EMG and ASTA alleviated the alteration of RBC, WBC, Hgb and AST caused by AFB1-contaminated diet. Liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was reduced, while myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was increased by AFB1-contaminated diet (P < 0.05). Both EGM and ASTA restrained the increase of MPO activity (P < 0.05). Degeneration of the liver tissues was found in broilers fed AFB1-contaminated diet. It suggested that feeding 0.4 mg/kg AFB1-contaminated diet resulted in adverse effects on blood parameters and liver morphology. Dietary addition of EGM addition at 5 g/kg diet, ASTA at 10 mg/kg diet and especially their combination showed positive protection effects on alleviating the alteration of feeding AFB1. The results indicated that supplementation of 5 g EGM/kg diet, 10 mg ASTA/kg diet and their combination could partially or greatly alleviate the adverse effects caused by AFB1, with the EGM+ASTA group receiving the most effective treatment.

Protective effects of Haematococcus astaxanthin on oxidative stress in healthy smokers

Free radicals induced by cigarette smoking have been strongly linked to increased oxidative stress in vivo, contributing to the pathobiology of various diseases. This study was performed to investigate the effects of Haematococcus astaxanthin (ASX), which has been known to be a potent antioxidant, on oxidative stress in smokers. Thirty-nine heavy smokers (≥20 cigarettes/day) and 39 non-smokers were enrolled in this study. Smokers were randomly divided into three dosage groups to receive ASX at doses of 5, 20, or 40 mg (n=13, each) once daily for 3 weeks. Oxidative stress biomarkers such as malondialdehyde, isoprostane, superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity, and ASX levels in plasma were measured at baseline and after 1, 2, and 3 weeks of treatment. Compared with baseline, the plasma malondialdehyde and isoprostane levels decreased, whereas superoxide dismutase level and total antioxidant capacity increased in all ASX intervention groups over the 3-week period. In particular, isoprostane levels showed a significant dose-dependent decrease after ASX intake. The results suggest that ASX supplementation might prevent oxidative damage in smokers by suppressing lipid peroxidation and stimulating the activity of the antioxidant system in smokers.