Long-term effects of oral tea polyphenols and Lactobacillus brevis M8 on biochemical parameters, digestive enzymes, and cytokines expression in broilers

Effects of dietary supplementation with tea polyphenols and probiotics on laying performance, biochemical parameters intestinal morphology and microflora of laying hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of tea polyphenols (TP) and probiotics (PB) on the production performance, biochemical indices, and gut health of laying hens. A total of 400 Hy-line Brown layers (45 weeks old) were randomly assigned to 8 diet groups for 8-week feeding trial. Compared with the control basal diet (CT), dietary high dosage of TP and PB (HTP-PB) increased egg mass (P < 0.05). Supplementation with HTP-PB improved the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and decreased the malonic dialdehyde (MDA) content (P < 0.05) without affecting the contents of immunoglobulins in the serum. The combination of HTP and PB supplementation promoted the secretion of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (PROG) compared with treatment with TP or PB alone (P < 0.05). The combined use of HTP and PB induced higher jejunal villus height (VH) than the CT group (P < 0.05). Dietary TP and PB could optimize the functional network of intestinal microflora and the interactions between the intestinal microflora and the host. Therefore, the combined use of the high dosage of TP and PB affected laying performance, improved antioxidant capacity, and promoted intestinal health, which may be associated with regulation of the intestinal microbiota.

Lower blood lipid level from the administration of plant tannins via altering the gut microbiota diversity and structure

Twenty-four Tan sheep were randomly assigned into 4 groups to study the capability of tannin supplementation (0.5% in dietary DM) to lower blood lipid levels mediated through the gut microbiota. The control (NC) group was offered a basic diet, while the 3 treatment groups were the TA group, which received supplementary tannic acid (TA); GSPE group, which received supplementary procyanidins (GSPE); and the TA + GSPE group, which received supplementary TA and GSPE, besides being supplied with the basic diet for 8 weeks feeding. At the end of the experiment, the serum glucose, insulin, lipids, and cytokines were measured, and the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon were tested by GC/MS. Moreover, the jejunal and colonic microbiota were detected by 16S rRNA sequencing. Significant reductions in serum triacylglycerol, cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein were found in all treatments. The total SCFAs decreased, while the iso-acids were significantly increased in the TA and TA + GSPE groups. The sheep showed noticeably lower MCP-1 and higher COX-2 levels in the GSPE group than that in the NC group. IL-6 was increased in the sheep fed with TA. The tannins still caused a noticeable shift in the colonic microbiota, with significant increases in the abundances of Adlercreutzia and Oscillospira. Ultimately, it was found that the diet with low levels of tannin could reduce blood triacylglycerol and cholesterol in sheep significantly by affecting the composition of the gut microbiota.

Effect of the dietary supplementation with extracts of chestnut wood and grape pomace on performance and jejunum response in female and male broiler chickens at different ages

BACKGROUND

Recently, interest in the use of herbs and phytogenic compounds has grown because of their potential role in the production and health of livestock animals. Among these compounds, several tannins have been tested in poultry, but those from chestnut wood and grape-industry byproducts have attracted remarkable interest. Thus, the present study aimed to gain further insights into the mechanisms involved in the response to the dietary supplementation with extracts of chestnut wood or grape pomace. To this purpose, 864 broiler chickens were fed a control diet (C) or the same diet supplemented 0.2% chestnut wood (CN) extract or 0.2% grape pomace (GP) extract from hatching until commercial slaughtering (at 45 days of age) to assess their effects on performance, meat quality, jejunum immune response and whole-transcriptome profiling in both sexes at different ages (15 and 35 d).

RESULTS

Final live weight and daily weight gain significantly increased (P < 0.01) in chickens fed GP diets compared to CN and C diets. The villi height was lower in chickens fed the CN diet than in those fed the C diet (P < 0.001); moreover, a lower density of CD45⁺ cells was observed in chickens fed the CN diet (P < 0.05) compared to those fed the C and GP diets. Genes involved in either pro- or anti-inflammatory response pathways, and antimicrobial and antioxidant responses were affected by GP and CN diets. There was no effect of the dietary treatment on meat quality. Regarding sex, in addition to a lower growth performance, females showed a lower occurrence of wooden breast (16.7% vs. 55.6%; P < 0.001) and a higher occurrence of spaghetti meat (48.6% vs. 4.17%; P < 0.001) in pectoralis major muscles after slaughtering than those in males. Based on the results of whole-transcriptome profiling, a significant activation of some molecular pathways related to immunity was observed in males compared with those of females.

CONCLUSIONS

The GP supplementation improved chicken performance and promoted immune responses in the intestinal mucosa; moreover, age and sex were associated with the most relevant transcriptional changes.

Chicken jejunal microbiota improves growth performance by mitigating intestinal inflammation

Background

Intestinal inflammation is prevalent in chicken, which results in decreased growth performance and considerable economic losses. Accumulated findings established the close relationship between gut microbiota and chicken growth performance. However, whether gut microbiota impacts chicken growth performance by lessening intestinal inflammation remains elusive.

Results

Seven-weeks-old male and female chickens with the highest or lowest body weights were significantly different in breast and leg muscle indices and average cross-sectional area of muscle cells. 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated Gram-positive bacteria, such as Lactobacilli, were the predominant species in high body weight chickens. Conversely, Gram-negative bacteria, such as Comamonas, Acinetobacter, Brucella, Escherichia-Shigella, Thermus, Undibacterium, and Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium were significantly abundant in low body weight chickens. Serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level was significantly higher in low body weight chickens (101.58 ± 5.78 ng/mL) compared with high body weight chickens (85.12 ± 4.79 ng/mL). The expression of TLR4, NF-κB, MyD88, and related inflammatory cytokines in the jejunum was significantly upregulated in low body weight chickens, which led to the damage of gut barrier integrity. Furthermore, transferring fecal microbiota from adult chickens with high body weight into 1-day-old chicks reshaped the jejunal microbiota, mitigated inflammatory response, and improved chicken growth performance.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that jejunal microbiota could affect chicken growth performance by mitigating intestinal inflammation.

Effects of three probiotics and their interactions on the growth performance of and nutrient absorption in broilers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three probiotics and their interactions on growth performance, intestinal digestion and absorption, and nutrient transporters in broilers. A total of 350 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into seven groups: the control group (broilers receiving normal drinking water), groups P1, P2 and P3 (broilers receiving drinking water with 1% Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis , respectively) and groups CP1, CP2 and CP3 (broilers receiving drinking water with a 1% compound probiotic mixture in 2:1:1, 1:2:1, 1:1:2 ratios, respectively). The feeding period was divided into two experimental periods: 1∼21 days and 22∼42 days. Compared to those in the control group, the broiler slaughter indexes and average daily feed intakes in the probiotics groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05), but the villus height in the small intestine increased significantly, and the crypt depth decreased significantly (P < 0.05). In the 1- to 21-day, experimental period, the broiler average daily gains in groups CP2 and CP3 were significantly greater than that in the control group. Amylase, lipase, and trypsin activities in the jejunum in groups CP and P3 increased significantly. GLUT2 mRNA expression in the probiotics group was significantly incresaed compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05). In the 22- to 42-day period, the average daily gain in the CP group was significantly greater than that in the control group. Amylase activity in the CP2 group, and lipase and trypsin activities in the CP, P1 and P3 groups increased significantly. The GLUT2 mRNA expression in the CP group increased significantly (P < 0.05). In summary, three probiotics and their interactions improved the digestibility and absorption of nutrients by increasing the activities of digestive enzymes, improving the morphology of the digestive tract, and upregulating the expression of GLUT2 mRNA in the intestinalcell membrane to improve the production performance in broilers.

Influence of Plant Bioactive Compounds on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier in Poultry

Natural plant bioactive compounds (PBC) have recently been explored as feed additives to improve productivity, health and welfare of poultry following ban or restriction of in-feed antibiotic use. Depending upon the types of PBC, they possess antimicrobial, digestive enzyme secretion stimulation, antioxidant and many pharmacological properties, which are responsible for beneficial effects in poultry production. Moreover, they may also improve the intestinal barrier function and nutrient transport. In this review, the effects of different PBC on the barrier function, permeability of intestinal epithelia and their mechanism of actions are discussed, focusing on poultry feeding. Dietary PBC may regulate intestinal barrier function through several molecular mechanisms by interacting with different metabolic cascades and cellular transcription signals, which may then modulate expressions of genes and their proteins in the tight junction (e.g., claudins, occludin and junctional adhesion molecules), adherens junction (e.g., E-cadherin), other intercellular junctional proteins (e.g., zonula occludens and catenins), and regulatory proteins (e.g., kinases). Interactive effects of PBC on immunomodulation via expressions of several cytokines, chemokines, complement components, pattern recognition receptors and their transcription factors and cellular immune system, and alteration of mucin gene expressions and goblet cell abundances in the intestine may change barrier functions. The effects of PBC are not consistent among the studies depending upon the type and dose of PBC, physiological conditions and parts of the intestine in chickens. An effective concentration in diets and specific molecular mechanisms of PBC need to be elucidated to understand intestinal barrier functionality in a better way in poultry feeding.

Dietary polyphenol impact on gut health and microbiota

Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds in plants and they are the most abundant antioxidants in the human diet. Due to their considerable structural diversity, this largely influences their bioavailability. Since a large proportion of polyphenols remains unabsorbed along the gastrointestinal tract, they may accumulate in the large intestine, where most of them are extensively metabolized by the intestinal microbiota. The formation of bioactive polyphenol-derived metabolites may also benefit the health status of the subjects, although the mechanisms have not been delineated. This review aims to highlight the impact of polyphenols on gut health and the modes of action could be through modulation of intestinal barrier function, innate and adaptive immune response, signaling pathways, as well as the ability to modify gut microbiota composition. The review will conclude by presenting future perspective and challenges of polyphenols application in food products to be used for preventing or treating diseases.

Fermented wheat bran by xylanase-producing Bacillus cereus boosts the intestinal microflora of broiler chickens

Wheat bran, while a nutritious and economic feed ingredient, contents high levels of non-starch polysaccharides which entraps nutrients and interferes digestion and absorption. To study the influence of fermented wheat bran by xylanase-producing Bacillus cereus on growth performance and intestinal microflora of broiler chickens, a total of 180 broilers (21-day-old, mixed of male and female) were randomly divided into 3 treatments, with 6 replicates in each treatment and 10 broilers in each replicate: 1) control check (CK), corn-soybean meal-based diet; 2) wheat bran group (WB), 5% of the corn were replaced with wheat bran; and 3) fermented wheat bran group (FWB), 5% of the corn were replaced with fermented wheat bran. Growth performance was determined in the period of 21- to 42-day-old. Intestinal digestive enzyme activities and microbiota diversity were analyzed on day 42. No differences were observed on growth performance among treatments (P > 0.05). The activity of amylase in the duodenum of FWB was 1.56 times higher than CK (P < 0.05). The Chao1 index of microbiota in cecum of FWB increased 24.26% compared with CK (P < 0.01). The amount of Bifidobacteriaceae in cecum of WB was 29.1 times and 15.8 times higher than CK and FWB (P < 0.05) respectively. Principal co-ordinates analysis in cecum revealed the dissimilarity microbiota among treatments. In summary, the use of fermented wheat bran to partially replace corn (5%) in diets had no adverse effect on growth performance and triggered beneficial effects such as increasing duodenal amylase activity and intestinal microflora abundance in broiler chickens. These observations support that solid-state fermentation by xylanase-producing Bacillus cereus is feasible approach to pre-treat wheat bran for feedstuff industry.

Regulation of autophagy by tea polyphenols in diabetic cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of tea polyphenols on cardiac function in rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy, and the mechanism by which tea polyphenols regulate autophagy in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

METHODS

Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: a normal control group (NC), an obesity group (OB), a diabetic cardiomyopathy group (DCM), a tea polyphenol group (TP), an obesity tea polyphenol treatment group (OB-TP), and a diabetic cardiomyopathy tea polyphenol treatment group (DCM-TP). After successful modeling, serum glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were determined; cardiac structure and function were inspected by ultrasonic cardiography; myocardial pathology was examined by staining with hematoxylin-eosin; transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the morphology and quantity of autophagosomes; and expression levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3-II, SQSTM1/p62, and Beclin-1 were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared to the NC group, the OB group had normal blood glucose and a high level of blood lipids; both blood glucose and lipids were increased in the DCM group; ultrasonic cardiograms showed that the fraction shortening was reduced in the DCM group. However, these were improved significantly in the DCM-TP group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed disordered cardiomyocytes and hypertrophy in the DCM group; however, no differences were found among the remaining groups. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the numbers of autophagosomes in the DCM and OB-TP groups were obviously increased compared to the NC and OB groups; the number of autophagosomes in the DCM-TP group was reduced. Western blotting showed that the expression of LC3-II/I and Beclin-1 increased obviously, whereas the expression of SQSTM1/p62 was decreased in the DCM and OB-TP groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Tea polyphenols had an effect on diabetic cardiomyopathy in rat cardiac function and may alter the levels of autophagy to improve glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetes.

Effects of three probiotic Bacillus on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidative capacity, serum immunity, and biochemical parameters in broilers

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of three Bacillus strains on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, antioxidative capacity, serum immunity, and biochemical parameters in broilers. A total of 360 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly allocated into four groups with three replicates per group (n = 30). The control group was fed a basal diet, whereas the other groups fed basal diet supplemented with either Bacillus subtilis natto or Bacillus licheniformis or Bacillus cereus (10⁸  cfu/kg) for 42 days, respectively. The results revealed that the probiotic-treated groups markedly improved final body weight, daily weight gain, and the activities of trypsin, amylase, lipase and total protease (p < 0.05). Moreover, chicks fed probiotics had higher serum glutathione peroxidase activity and O₂ ^- level, as well as hepatic catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, whereas malondialdehyde levels in serum and liver were reduced (p < 0.05). The significant increased IgA (p < 0.05) was observed in the probiotics groups as compared to the control group. In addition, dietary administration of probiotic strain markedly reduced the levels of serum ammonia, uric acid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride. Taken together, these three probiotic Bacillus showed beneficial effects on chickens with minor strain specificity.

Evaluation of the antioxidant property and effects in Caenorhabditis elegans of Xiangxi flavor vinegar, a Hunan local traditional vinegar

Xiangxi flavor vinegar (XV) is one of Hunan Province's traditional fermented vinegars. It is produced from herb, rice, and spring water with spontaneous liquid-state fermentation techniques. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant property of XV by analyzing its antioxidant compounds, its free radical scavenging property in vitro and in vivo, and its effects on antioxidant enzyme activity and apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that XV is rich in antioxidants. In particular, ligustrazine reached 6.431 μg/ml. The in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH^•), hydroxyl radical (^•OH), and superoxide anion radical (O₂^•-) scavenging rates of XV were 95.85%, 97.22%, and 63.33%, respectively. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in XV-treated C. elegans decreased significantly (P<0.01) compared to the control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were remarkably increased (P<0.01) in C. elegans after XV treatment. In addition, XV could upregulate CED-9 protein expression and downregulate CED-3 protein expression in C. elegans. These results prove that XV is rich in antioxidants and scavenges radicals in vitro efficiently. XV inhibits apoptosis in C. elegans probably by scavenging ROS and increasing the activities of its antioxidant enzymes.

Protective effect of 5, 7-dihydroxyflavone on brain of rats exposed to acrylamide or γ-radiation

5, 7-Dihydroxyflavone (DHF), a natural plant flavonoid, have shown a variety of beneficial effects. Neurotoxic effects of acrylamide (ACR) or gamma irradiation (IR) have been established in humans and animals. The current study was designed to evaluate whether DHF could restrain ACR or IR induced neurotoxicity in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The study was carried out by investigating some biochemical and biophysical parameters as well as histopathological examination. The daily oral administration of ACR (25mg/kg b.wt.) for 21days or exposure to single dose of IR (5Gy) induced brain damage throughout the significant decrease in catecholamine contents and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain tissue with a concomitant significant decrease in serum activity of creatinine kinase-BB. Moreover, the brain levels of MDA and β-amyloid and activities of acetylcholinesterase and caspase-3 were remarkably augmented in ACR-induced rats. Additionally, the electrical properties of erythrocytes membrane were significantly disturbed. The administration of DHF (50mg/kg b.wt. daily for 21day) to rats exposed to either ACR or IR significantly reversed the alteration in all studied parameters. Histopathological investigation of brain tissues supported the neuroprotective effect of DHF on brain. From the obtained data, it can be concluded that the DHF has neuroprotective effect against ACR or IR induced-neurotoxicity.

Potential of plant polyphenols to combat oxidative stress and inflammatory processes in farm animals

Polyphenols are secondary plant metabolites which have been shown to exert antioxidative and antiinflamma tory effects in cell culture, rodent and human studies. Based on the fact that conditions of oxidative stress and inflammation are highly relevant in farm animals, polyphenols are considered as promising feed additives in the nutrition of farm animals. However, in contrast to many studies existing with model animals and humans, potential antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects of polyphenols have been less investigated in farm animals so far. This review aims to give an overview about potential antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects in farm animals. The first part of the review highlights the occurrence and the consequences of oxidative stress and inflammation on animal health and performance. The second part of the review deals with bioavailability and metabolism of polyphenols in farm animals. The third and main part of the review presents an overview of the findings from studies which investigated the effects of polyphenols of various plant sources in pigs, poultry and cattle, with particular consideration of effects on the antioxidant system and inflammation.