title: In vivo immunomodulatory effects of plant flavonoids in lipopolysaccharide-challenged broilers.
abstract: Plant flavonoids are generally regarded as natural replacers of synthetic growth promoters in poultry production. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of plant flavonoids, such as genistein and hesperidin, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broilers. A total of 700 21-day-old commercial Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly assigned into six treatment groups, each having six pens of 20 chicks/pen. Chicks were fed a basal diet without any additive (control, CON), 5 mg genistein/kg feed (G5), 20 mg hesperidin/kg (H20), or a basal diet with a combination of genistein and hesperidin (1 : 4) with doses of 5 mg/kg feed (GH5), 10 mg/kg (GH10) and 20 mg/kg (GH20) for 6 weeks. Half of the birds from each treatment were separated, and either challenged with 0·9% sodium chloride solution or Escherichia coli LPS (250 μg/kg BW) on days 16, 18 and 20. The results showed that both genistein and hesperidin improved (P<0.01) the plasma antioxidant status of growing broilers, by increasing total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreasing malondialdehyde production. LPS challenge further increased (P<0.05) TAOC and SOD levels. Regardless of LPS challenge, both genistein and hesperidin improved the humoral and mucosal immunity by increasing the intestinal intraepithelial lymphocyte numbers (P<0.01), as well as anti-Newcastle disease and anti-avian influenza antibody titers (P<0.05). Supplementation of both the plant flavonoids generally increased (P<0.05) the immune organs indices (spleen, thymus and bursa). Thus, supplementation of basal diet of broiler chicks, either with genistein or hesperidin, improved immune and antioxidant status of growing broilers. In addition, combined supplementation of both the flavonoids showed further improvement than individual compounds.
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology,College of Animal Science and Technology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing 210095,China.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kamboh
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology,College of Animal Science and Technology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing 210095,China.
authors.forename: S-Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Hang
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Food Science and Technology,University College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences,The Islamia University of Bahawalpur,Bahawalpur 63100,Pakistan.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: 1Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology,College of Animal Science and Technology,Nanjing Agricultural University,Nanjing 210095,China.
authors.forename: W-Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019833:Genistein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D006569:Hesperidin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019833:Genistein; D006569:Hesperidin
keywords: LPS challenge; antioxidant status; genistein; hesperidin; immunomodulation