Forsythia suspensa extract attenuates breast muscle oxidative injury induced by transport stress in broilers

Abstract

This experiment was conducted with 144 male Arbor Acre broilers (one d old, weighing 45.6 ± 1.3 g) to determine protective effects of Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) against breast muscle oxidative injury induced by transport stress (TS). The birds were randomly allotted to one of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. The treatments consisted of broilers fed diets supplemented without or with FSE (100 mg/kg) and challenged without or with TS for 3 h before slaughter. Transport stress increased live BW loss of broilers (P < 0.05), and the adverse effect was attenuated by FSE (P < 0.05). Serum levels of corticoserone and lactate were increased for broilers after transportation (P < 0.05), whereas these parameters were not affected by FSE. After slaughter, neither breast muscle pH value at 45 min and 24 h postmortem nor 24 h drip loss value was influenced by TS or FSE, whereas TS increased the value of pH decline within 24 h postmortem (P < 0.05). Transportation decreased redness and increased yellowness value of breast muscle in broilers (P < 0.05), and FSE tended to have (P = 0.06) or had the converse changes (P < 0.05). Comparing with non-transported birds, the birds subjected to transportation had greater malondialdehyde (MDA) content and avUCP mRNA expression (P < 0.05) and lower 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (P < 0.05) in breast muscle, whereas the birds supplemented with FSE had lower MDA content (P < 0.05) and greater DPPH radical scavenging activity (P < 0.05). Transport caused decreases (P < 0.05) in total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity, and the decreases were improved by FSE (P < 0.05). Collectively, live BW loss and breast muscle oxidative injury were increased by TS in broilers and could be attenuated by FSE via directly scavenging free radicals and increased antioxidant capacity. Therefore, FSE could protect broilers against breast muscle oxidative injury induced by TS.

Forsythia suspensa extract enhances performance via the improvement of nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, anti-inflammatory function, and gut morphology in broilers

“…F. suspensa extracts might also be beneficial to alleviate growth inhibition and immune damage of broilers under heat stress and corticosterone stimulation ( Zeng et al., 2014 , Zhao et al., 2017b ). Previous studies in our laboratory also reported FSE could reduce transport stress, slow down muscle protein degradation and growth inhibition, and improve muscle antioxidant capacity and meat quality in broilers ( Pan et al., 2018a , Pan et al., 2018b ). However, to the best of our knowledge, few studies focus on the possible role for FSE in replacing antibiotics under nonchallenge conditions and the possible mechanism on improvement of performance in broilers.…”

“…The current results might be due to the main ingredients of FSE as natural antioxidants could activate the antioxidant defense system ( Lee et al., 2000 ) and Nrf2 system ( Jung and Kwak, 2010 ) in cell membranes of tissues. The improved antioxidant status of broilers fed FSE might also be due to the fact that the FSE could lower DPPH radical-scavenging activity and MDA content ( Lu et al., 2010 , Pan et al., 2018a ). In addition, the results could also be due to the antioxidant effects of forsythiaside A in FSE, which could improve antioxidant capacity in vitro ( Lu et al., 2010 ) and in vivo ( Zhao et al., 2017a ) via the enhancement of gene expression of antioxidant enzymes in cells ( Cheng et al., 2014 ).…”

“…The meat color and pH value were measured in triplicate at 3 different orientations (middle, medial, and lateral) for each sample. Postmortem drip loss at 24 h was measured using the plastic bag method as described by Pan et al. (2018a) .…”

“…Modern intensive raising methods for broilers severely cause various stresses, decrease the immunity, and compromise antioxidant ability of broilers, which leads to increased mortality and reduced quality of chicken meat ( Mitchell and Kettlewell, 1998 , Pan et al., 2018a ). In-feed antibiotics promote growth and reduce incidence of mortality of broilers under intensive conditions ( Cervantes et al., 2015 ).…”

Effect of chestnut wood extract on performance, meat quality, antioxidant status, immune function, and cholesterol metabolism in broilers

“…A high concentration of urea-N in serum is a risk indicator of cardiovascular diseases, whereas the low concentration of uric acid has protective effects on oxidative stress in body ( Glantzounis et al., 2005 ). In addition, the higher concentration of urea nitrogen in serum was reported as transport stressor in broilers ( Pan et al., 2018a , b ).…”