Effects of Soybean Isoflavone on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, and Antioxidation in Male Broilers

Abstract

To investigate the effects of a synthetic soybean isoflavone (ISF) on growth performance, meat quality, and antioxidation in male broilers, 1,500 birds that were 42 d old were allotted to 5 treatments with 6 replicates per treatment (50 birds per replicate). Birds were fed diets supplemented with 0, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg of ISF/kg, respectively, for a period of 3 wk ad libitum. The results showed that dietary supplementations with 10 or 20 mg of ISF/kg increased weight gain by 13.6 and 16.2% (P < 0.01) and elevated feed intake by 7.37% (P < 0.05) and 11.2% (P < 0.01), respectively. Addition of 10 mg of ISF/kg decreased feed:gain by 5.5% (P < 0.05). Supplementation with 40 mg of ISF/kg in the diet slightly increased water-holding capacity by 17.24% (P < 0.1), and the addition of 20 or 40 mg/kg of ISF significantly increased the pH value of meat (P < 0.01), although adding 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg increased the lightness of meat color (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde production was slightly reduced in plasma of 20 mg of ISF/kg supplemented chickens (P < 0.1) and significantly decreased in breast muscles of 20, 40, or 80 mg of ISF/kg supplemented chickens (P < 0.01). The addition of 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg significantly increased total antioxidant capability (P < 0.01) and slightly elevated total superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.1) in plasma of chickens. The dose of 80 mg of ISF/kg slightly improved catalase activity in plasma (P < 0.06). In breast muscle, treatment of birds with 40 or 80 mg of ISF/kg caused an increase of total superoxide dismutase activity by 25.36% (P < 0.05) or 63.93% (P < 0.01). Catalase activity significantly increased by 70.61% by the supplemental ISF at the 40-mg level (P < 0.05). Also, 10, 20, or 40 mg doses of ISF/kg decreased lactic acid production (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that dietary ISF could improve growth performance and meat quality by decreasing lipid peroxidation and improving antioxidative status in male broilers.

Improved performance and immunological responses as the result of dietary genistein supplementation of broiler chicks

“…Consistent with our findings, Jiang et al (2007) reported that dietary supplementation of 10 and 20 mg/kg of soy ISF improved FCR and weight gain, respectively, in broiler chicks.…”

“…In this regard, it has been demonstrated that the harmful intestinal microbial colonies were diminished by administration of different flavonoid and isoflavonoid compounds (Bankova et al, 2000;Havsteen, 2002;Kosalec et al, 2005). The lower ADFI in groups fed on the higher dosages of genistein is consistent with findings of Jiang et al (2007), who reported that the levels more than 20 mg soy ISF/kg depress feed consumption in broiler chicks. Of course, some researchers reported that genistein supplementation of broiler chicks had no marked impact on feed intake, weight gain or feed conversion efficiency (Iqbal et al, 2014;Kamboh and Zhu, 2014).…”

“…In human dendritic cells, excess antioxidant can down-regulate the immune response (Verhasselt et al, 1999). Because ISF act as antioxidant (Jiang et al, 2007), it is possible that the higher dosages of ISF could prevent from the initial increase in reactive oxidant species necessary to stimulate lymphocytes; whereby diminish lymphocytes' responses. On the other hand, it has been shown that genistein is an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases at high concentrations, while acting as an estrogenic compound at low levels (Stahl et al, 1998).…”

Effects of ginger root (Zingiber officinale) on egg yolk cholesterol, antioxidant status and performance of laying hens

“…It seems that a reduction in plasma MDA concentration of birds fed a diet with 0.5 or 0.75% of ginger root powder (Table 3) might have contributed to increased egg production as compared to control birds. The MDA is a major endogenous lipid peroxidation product and, therefore, the extent of lipid peroxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be monitored by MDA levels (Jiang et al 2007). The GSH antioxidant activity is one of the important body defence system against detrimental effects of ROS in animals.…”

“…Most birds experience some level of stress during their lives because of environmental stressors (Jiang et al 2007). However, the antioxidative and hypocholesterolemic effect of ginger root on laying hens has not yet been studied.…”