Effects of dietary star anise (Illicium verum Hook f) supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating multiparous sows and nursing piglets

The effect of Pimpinella Anisum herbal tea on human milk volume and weight gain in the preterm infant: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Human milk supports pre-term infants to thrive. Yet human milk production can be inhibited when infants are born prematurely. Pimpinella Anisum has been evidenced to increase milk production and infant weight gain in previous animal studies. The present study aimed to determine the effect of Pimpinella Anisum herbal tea on human milk volume and preterm infant weight in human populations for the first time.

METHODS

Human milk supports pre-term infants to thrive. Yet human milk production can be inhibited when infants are born prematurely. Pimpinella Anisum has been evidenced to increase milk production and infant weight gain in previous animal studies. The present study aimed to determine the effect of Pimpinella Anisum herbal tea on human milk volume and preterm infant weight in human populations for the first time.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference in terms of milk volume in the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh days between the three groups of intervention, placebo, and control (p < 0.05). On the first day, the mean volume of pumped milk in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.008). On the second day, there was no statistically significant difference between groups. On the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh days, the mean volume of pumped milk in the intervention group was significantly higher than the placebo and control groups (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of preterm infant weight on days 0, 3 and 7 between the three groups.

CONCLUSION

The use of Pimpinella Anisum or 'Anise' tea can increase the volume of human milk and since no specific side effects have been reported in its use, it may be incorporated easily, cheaply, and effectively in practice where appropriate to the benefit of preterm infant nutrition worldwide.

Illicium verum and Eucommia ulmoides leaf extracts promote nutrient availability and antioxidant capacity in piglets by upregulating duodenal and jejunal Nrf2/TNF-α

The effect of Illicium verum extracts (IVE) or Eucommia ulmoides leaf extracts (ELE) on nutrient availability, duodenal and jejunal antioxidant ability of Duroc ×Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) and Chinese native Licha-black (LCB) piglets was investigated. Ninety-six piglets (48 DLY and 48 LCB respectively) without significant difference in body weight (11.22 ± 0.32 kg) were used in a 2 × 4 factorial design. Animals were randomly allocated to four treatments, and each had four replicates with three DLY and three LCB piglets. Treatments were basal diet (CON) and basal diet with 500 mg/kg IVE, 250 mg/kg ELE and 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CHL) respectively. Animals were placed individually for 7-days adaptation following 42-days test. Results showed the significant interaction (p < 0.05) between dietary treatments and pig species in activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), content of malondialdehyde (MDA), and α-tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Nrf2/TNF-α at mRNA and protein level in duodenum and jejunum of DLY and LCB piglets. The IVE and ELE increased (p < 0.05) activity of GSH-Px and T-SOD, and the Nrf2/TNF-α at mRNA and protein level, however, the decreased (p < 0.05) MDA content, and TNF-α at mRNA and protein level in duodenum and jejunum were observed. The CHL decreased (p < 0.05) activity of GSH-Px and T-SOD, TNF-α and Nrf2 at mRNA and protein level in duodenum, but increased (p < 0.05) MDA content and Nrf2/TNF-α in jejunum. DLY piglets had higher (p < 0.05) nutrient digestibility (organic matter, crude protein and gross energy), availability (biological value and net protein utilization), MDA content, and TNF-α at mRNA and protein level in jejunum, and had lower (p < 0.05) activity of GSH-Px and T-SOD, and Nrf2 and Nrf2/TNF-α at mRNA and protein level in duodenum and jejunum than LCB. In conclusion, the 500 mg/kg IVE and 250 mg/kg ELE improved the nutrient availability, and the improvement of antioxidant capacity is realized by activating the Nrf2/TNF-α of duodenum and jejunum. The CHL had adverse effects on antioxidant ability of DLY and LCB piglets. The results showed that the nutrient digestion and absorption capacity of DLY were stronger than that of LCB piglets, but the antioxidant capacity was lower than that of LCB piglets. Therefore, the IVE and ELE are recommended as a new potential alternative to antibiotics in piglets' diets.

Effects of dietary fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) seed powder supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, small intestinal morphology, and carcass traits of broilers

Background

With the increasing demands in livestock and poultry breeding and the growing number of food-borne diseases, it is necessary to practice food safety and develop strategies to produce healthy livestock. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) has been used as an additive in poultry production by some researchers, but there are few studies on the systemic beneficial effects of dietary fennel seed powder supplementation on broilers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary fennel seed powder supplementation on feed intake, the apparent metabolic rate of nutrients, intestinal morphology, and carcass traits in Cobb broilers.

Methods

A single-factor experimental design was used. In total, 160 1-day-old Cobb broiler chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments, with four replicates each (n = 10/replicate). Broilers in the control (CN) group were fed a basal diet without fennel seed powder, and broilers in the treatment groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.15% (LF), 0.30% (MF), or 0.45% (HF) fennel seed powder, respectively. Feeding trials lasted for 42 days under the conditions of ad libitum access to feed and water, and 24-h illumination. During the third and sixth weeks, digestive and metabolic assays were carried out. When the broilers were 42 days old, one chicken with a weight close to the average was selected from each repetition, euthanized by an intravenous injection of 5% sodium pentobarbital, and carcass traits were measured and intestinal samples were collected for morphological assessment.

Results

There was no significant difference in growth performance of broilers (P > 0.05). The breast muscle percentage, fat width and fat width index, breast muscle area, and breast muscle area index of broilers in the LF group were higher than those in other groups (P < 0.05). Jejunum weight and length were higher in MF than in CN and LF broilers (P < 0.05). Additionally, duodenal villi height, ileal villi height, and ileal wall thickness were higher in MF than in CN broilers (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in nutrient utilization among all groups (P > 0.05), except that the ash apparent metabolic rate in MF broilers at 21 days of age was higher than that in LF broilers (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with a moderate concentration of fennel affects carcass performance, and intestinal morphology, and promotes the growth and development of broilers.

Illicium verum extracts and probiotics with added glucose oxidase promote antioxidant capacity through upregulating hepatic and jejunal Nrf2/Keap1 of weaned piglets

Accumulating evidences indicate that plant extracts and probiotics are effective antioxidant substitutes which play important roles in animal production. However, the comparative study of the mechanism underlying the antioxidant property of Illicium verum extracts (IVE) and probiotics with added glucose oxidase (PGO) on piglets remains to be explored. This study evaluated the difference and the interaction effect of IVE and PGO on serum, liver, and jejunum antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets. A total of 32 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) at the age of 28 d with an average body weight of 14.96 ± 0.32 kg were randomly divided into four treatments with eight replicates per treatment in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments included basal diet (IVE-PGO-), basal diet + 1,000 mg/kg PGO (IVE-PGO+), basal diet + 500 mg/kg IVE (IVE+PGO-), and basal diet + 500 mg/kg IVE + 1,000 mg/kg PGO (IVE+PGO+). All the piglets were housed individually for the 42-d trial period after 7-d adaptation. The piglets were euthanized at the end of the experiment and the liver and jejunum samples were taken and subjected to immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, as well as antioxidant and qRT-PCR analysis. Significant interactions were observed between IVE and PGO for total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum (42 d), liver, and jejunum; malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum (21 d); and mRNA and protein expression of kelch sample related protein-1 (Keap1) and nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor (Nrf2)/Keap1 in the liver and jejunum (P < 0.05). Both IVE and PGO improved (P < 0.05) T-SOD and GSH-Px in the serum (42 d), liver, and jejunum, and the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and Nrf2/Keap1 in the liver and jejunum, but decreased (P < 0.05) MDA in the serum (21 d) and the mRNA and protein expression of Keap1 in the liver and jejunum. Immunohistochemical results confirmed that IVE and PGO enhanced the positive reactions of Nrf2 but weakened Keap1 in both the liver and jejunum. In conclusion, the results confirmed that IVE (500 mg/kg) and PGO (1,000 mg/kg) can improve the antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets and that the interaction effect between IVE and PGO is significant. At the same time, the fact that IVE and PGO activate the Nrf2/Keap1 in the liver and jejunum signaling pathway suggests that they play an important role in the ameliorative antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets. Therefore, the combination of IVE and PGO could be recommended as a new potential alternative to antibiotics in piglets' diets.

Effects of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f) oil on the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 signaling pathway of chickens during subclinical Escherichia coli challenge

We characterized the mechanism underlying star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f) oil (SAO)-mediated antioxidant status during subclinical Escherichia coli (E. coli) challenge. A total of 512 male birds (White Leghorn) at 30 wk of age with similar body weight (2.14 ± 0.02 kg) were randomly divided into 2 groups with 1 group being orally challenged with E. coli (every other day from day 15 to day 27) during the experiment. Each group of birds was then randomly allocated to dietary treatment of SAO supplementation at 0, 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg of basal diet (8 replicate cages during each treatment). The treatments were arranged a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement. The experiment comprised 1 wk of adaptation and 3 wks of data collection. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between SAO supplementation and E. coli challenge for final body weight and average daily feed intake of birds. However, E. coli challenge resulted in a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in final body weight of birds as compared with unchallenged birds. There were interactions between SAO supplementation and E. coli challenge for the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in serum and for the activity of GSH-Px in the liver of birds. Supplementation of SAO enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes but decreased the MDA content in the serum and liver of birds, and it also enhanced the expression of genes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the liver of the birds. Meanwhile, supplementation of SAO can also reduce E. coli challenge-induced oxidative stress in the serum and liver of birds, and the efficacy of SAO in birds during subclinical E. coli challenge is dose-dependent. In conclusion, the enhancement of antioxidant capacity by star anise or its effective compounds is through upregulation of Nrf2 signaling pathway. The optimum supplementation dose of SAO for protecting birds against E. coli challenge is 400 mg/kg.

Effect of Illicium verum or Eucommia ulmoides leaf extracts on the anti-stress ability, and mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 and TNF-α in Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire and Chinese native Licha-black nursery piglets

Plant extracts are considered to be an effective alternative to antibiotics in response to weaning stress in piglets. This study evaluated the effect of Illicium verum extracts (IVE) or Eucommia ulmoides leaf extracts (ELE) on growth performance, serum and liver antioxidant ability of nursery piglets, as well as the difference of IVE and ELE on Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) and Chinese native Licha-black (LCB) piglets. A total of 96 nursery piglets (48 DLY and 48 LCB piglets) with an average body weight of 11.22 ± 0.32 kg were randomly divided into four treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial design. Each treatment had four replicates with 3 DLY and 3 LCB piglets per replicate respectively. Treatments included: basal diet, basal diet + 500 mg/kg IVE, basal diet + 250 mg/kg ELE and basal diet + 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline (CHL). All piglets were housed individually for the 42 days trial period after 7 days adaptation. Results showed that there were significant interactions (p < .05) between piglets species and dietary treatments in average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency, serum and hepatic glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA), hepatic integral optical density (IOD) of α-tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), hepatic relative mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/TNF-α and protein expression of TNF-α. Regardless of piglets species, supplementation with IVE and ELE increased (p < .05) ADG and feed efficiency, T-SOD and GSH-Px in serum and liver, hepatic IOD of Nrf2, hepatic mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2/TNF-α. However, CHL treatment resulted in lower (p < .05) serum GSH-Px and hepatic mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2/TNF-α, and higher hepatic MDA and IOD of TNF-α. Compared to LCB, DLY piglets had higher (p < .05) ADG and feed efficiency, serum and hepatic MDA, and protein expression of TNF-α, but lower (p < .05) ADFI, liver index, serum and hepatic GSH-Px, hepatic IOD of TNF-α, mRNA expressions of Nrf2/TNF-α were observed. In conclusion, Illicium verum (500 mg/kg) and Eucommia ulmoides leaf (250 mg/kg) extracts can increase the growth performance and antioxidant ability of DLY and LCB piglets, while chlortetracycline produces undesirable side-effects on the antioxidant ability of DLY and LCB piglets. Illicium verum and Eucommia ulmoides leaf extracts produced different antioxidant effects in DLY and LCB piglets with the Chinese native Licha-black pig responding better than Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire.