title: Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves improved the egg and meat qualities and protected against ethanol-induced oxidative damage in laying hens.
abstract: Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves (PE) were value resources due to various pharmacological activities, but data on the effect on laying hens are very scare. This study was conducted to determine the effect of PE on the laying performance, egg traits, meat quality, antioxidant status and liver tissues of laying hens. One hundred and twenty 256-day-old Yueqinhuang laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (different levels of PE at 0, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.2 g/kg diet) for 63 days with 15 replicates per group. Addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg trait by increasing the eggshell thickness and decreasing MDA production and cholesterol content in the egg yolk, but also significantly enhanced meat quality of hens, as suggested by the increase pH45 min(p < .01) and a* value, and decrease drip loss rate (p < .01). Meanwhile, under acute ethanol-induced oxidative damage condition, supplementation of 0.8 g/kg PE enhanced the serum antioxidant status by increasing enzymatic activities (GSH-PX, T-SOD, T-AOC), inhibited oxidative damage and provided protective effect to liver tissue. In conclusion, addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg traits and meat quality without obvious adverse effects, but also increased the serum antioxidant status of the hens and protected their liver tissue from ethanol-induced oxidative damage. This study indicated that PE could be utilized as an effective feed additive for laying hens to improve health performance and egg traits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.|Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Bioactive Natural Products, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.|Infinitus (China) Company, Jiangmen City, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.|Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Bioactive Natural Products, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.|Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Bioactive Natural Products, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Institute of Poultry Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Institute of Poultry Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.|Guangdong Province Engineering Research Center for Bioactive Natural Products, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7346-8275
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004531:Eggs / Q000592:standards*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D059808:Polyphenols; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: PE (polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves); antioxidant status; egg trait; ethanol-induced oxidative damage; laying hen