Supplementation effects of pomegranate by-products on oxidative status, metabolic profile, and performance in transition dairy cows

Abstract

Recent studies demonstrated a high antioxidant capacity for pomegranate components due to their rich bioactive compounds, such as conjugated fatty acids and phenolics. The objective of the present study was, therefore, to assess whether pomegranate seed or pomegranate seed pulp (peel + seed) supplementation could be effective to improve antioxidant status, and hence metabolic profile and performance in periparturient dairy cows. After a 1-wk pretreatment period, Holstein cows (primiparous n = 12, multiparous n = 18) were assigned to 3 dietary treatments from 25 d before expected calving through 25 d postcalving. The dietary treatments included (1) control (CON); (2) diet supplemented with pomegranate seeds (PS; 400 g/cow per day); and (3) diet supplemented with pomegranate seed pulp (PSP; 400 g of seeds/cow per day + 1200 g of peels/cow per day). Compared with CON, supplementation with either PS or PSP had no effects on dry matter intake, rumen fermentation, and plasma concentrations of cholesterol, total protein, globulin, and aspartate amino transferase, but enhanced plasma total antioxidant activity, and lowered triacylglycerol, free fatty acids (FFA), and β-hydroxybutyrate at both pre-and postpartum periods. Plasma concentration of glucose, albumin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were not affected by dietary treatments at prepartum, whereas SOD activity increased and glucose, albumin, MDA, and FFAto-albumin ratio decreased by feeding both by-products at postpartum period. In contrast to PS, supplementing PSP resulted in a greater decrease in plasma glucose and triacylglycerol concentration and higher increase in SOD activity. Energy-and fat-corrected milk yields were higher in cows fed PSP diet compared with those fed CON or PS diets, but content of milk fat, protein, and lactose were similar across the dietary treatments. These findings indicated that dietary pomegranate byproducts supplementation, in particular PSP, could improve antioxidant status, which was associated with a decline in lipid oxidation (FFA and β-hydroxybutyrate) and peroxidation (MDA) and an enhancement in glucose utilization as well as fat-corrected milk yield.

Effect of pomegranate by‐product silage on feed intake, blood metabolites, inflammatory responses, and prostaglandin F2α metabolites in Holstein dairy cows

“…Our finding is consistent with Safari et al. (2018) who tested the dried pomegranate seed and peel in feeding dairy cows.…”

“…Previous reports have shown that feeding dried pomegranate byproduct (Safari et al, 2018) F I G U R E 2 (A-E) Effect of pomegranate by-product silage on non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and serum amyloid-A (SAA) at the different sampling time after parturition in Holstein dairy cows.…”

Evaluation of natural plant extracts as antioxidants in a bovine in vitro model of oxidative stress

“…As such, results on both cell apoptosis and death and viability highlighted that PMG natural extract did not have a negative effect on BAEC physiology in culture. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive effect of PMG extract as feed supplement in different physiological phases, such as in postpartum Holstein cows under heat stress conditions (Khorsandi et al, 2019) and during the transition period (Safari et al, 2018). In particular, PMG supplementation improved ruminal fermentation (Khorsandi et al, 2019) and increased milk yield and milk composition (Abarghuei et al, 2013) in dairy cattle.…”

Nutraceuticals

“…46 Pomegranate byproducts (eg, seeds, pulp, and peels) contain a potent source of polyphenols, predominantly flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins, as well as stereoisomers of vitamin E. Together, these compounds reduce reactive oxygen species and chelate metal ions to induce potentially beneficial immunomodulatory effects in ruminants. 49,94 Dairy calves supplemented with pomegranate extracts had increased in vitro synthesis of the lymphocyte-derived cytokines interferon-g and IL-4, as well as greater total immunoglobulin G (IgG), in response to ovalbumin vaccination. By improving aspects of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, calves supplemented with polyphenols may have an improved immune response following vaccination.…”