Effects of dietary supplementation of Artemisia argyi aqueous extract on antioxidant indexes of small intestine in broilers

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Artemisia argyi aqueous extract(AAE) on antioxidant indexes in the small intestine. A total of 192 Arbor Acre broiler chickens(one-day-old) were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 6 replicates of 8 chickens. These 4 diets were formulated by adding 0, 500,1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg AAE to the basal diet. The results showed as follows: 1) compared with the control, the total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) in ileum for the 2,000 mg/kg treatment group was significantly increased at 21 days of age(P < 0.05); the T-AOC levels in jejunum and ileum were significantly increased in broilers supplemented with 500 mg/kg AAE at 42 days of age(P < 0.05), and the T-AOC levels in jejunum and ileum were significantly improved in 1,000 mg/kg treatment group(P < 0.01), 2) At 21 days of age, supplementation of 500 mg/kg AAE significantly increased the catalase(CAT) activity of small intestine, and the glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) activity of jejunum was improved(P < 0.01), meanwhile, the GSH-Px activity of duodenum and the total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD) activity of duodenum and jejunum were significantly higher than those of the control group(P < 0.05); supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg AAE significantly increased the CAT activity of duodenum and ileum and the GSH-Px activity of duodenum and jejunum(P < 0.05), and the ileum GSH-Px activity was significantly increased(P < 0.01); supplementation of 2,000 mg/kg AAE significantly increased the CAT activity of duodenum and ileum(P < 0.05). At 42 days of age, supplementation of 500 mg/kg AAE significantly increased the GSH-Px activity of ileum and the T-SOD activity of duodenum(P < 0.05),meanwhile, the T-SOD activity of jejunum was significantly increased(P < 0.01); supplementation of1,000 mg/kg AAE significantly increased the CAT activity of jejunum and the T-SOD activity of ileum(P < 0.01), and the GSH-Px activity of jejunum was significantly increased(P < 0.05); supplementation of2,000 mg/kg AAE significantly increased the T-SOD activity of ileum(P < 0.05), but significantly decreased the CAT activity of ileum and the GSH-Px activity of jejunum(P < 0.05). 3) The malondialdehyde(MDA) levels of 3 AAE supplementation groups were significantly decreased at 21 and 42 days of age(P < 0.05). The results suggested that dietary supplementation with AAE could improve the antioxidative capacity of small intestine in broilers.

Effects of a two-meal daily feeding pattern with varied crude protein levels on growth performance and antioxidant indexes in pigs

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of daily feeding pattern on growth performance, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant indexes in pigs. One hundred and eighty female Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire(DLY) pigs with similar body weight(11.00 ± 0.12 kg) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: the control group(fed 17.01% CP diet, twice daily); high-low group(H-L group, fed18.33% CP diet in the morning, followed by 15.70% CP diet in the afternoon); and low-high group(L-H group, fed 15.70% CP diet in the morning, followed by 18.33% CP diet in the afternoon)(n = 6). Comparable amounts of their respective diets were given at 05:30 and 15:00 throughout the experimental periods to make all the treatments consumed the same type of food and the same amount of calories on a daily basis. On day 30, one pig was randomly selected per litter for blood samples. Compared with the control group, ADG in the H-L and L-H groups increased by 8.11% and 16.23%, but not significant(P > 0.05); and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) in the H-L and L-H groups decreased by 26.76% and 41.04%(P < 0.05), respectively. The H-L group feeding pattern could significantly improve levels of serum superoxide dismutase(SOD), when compared with the control group. These findings suggest that the twomeal daily feeding pattern with varied levels of CP affects serum levels of BUN and SOD. These changes could effectively silightly improve growth performance and antioxidant capacity in pigs without incurring increased feeding costs.

Effect of Tea Polyphenols and Vitamin E on Antioxidant Performance in Broilers

[ Objedlve] To investigate the effects of tea polyphenols （TP） and vitamin E （VE ） on growth performance and antioxidant performance of broilers in the routine breeding conditions. [ Method] A total of 270 broilers at 1 day old were fed on the basic diets supplemented with TP and VE at different proportions. The malondialdehyde （MDA） content, total antioxidant capacity （T-AOC） as well as activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD） and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） were measured. The whole weight gain and feed conversion rate were also determined. [ Result] The broilers fed on TP and VE had remarkably higher serum activities of SOD and GSH-Px, stronger T-AOC and lower MDA content than the control ones. The best effects were achieved when the supplementary dosage of -rP and VE was respectively 60 and 80 mg/kg · Diet, because the experi- mental broilers had significantly higher antioxidant indices than the control ones （ P 〈 0.01 ）. Additionally, the boilers at the age of 21 or 42 days old had significantly higher body weight and lower feed conversion rate than the control ones （ P 〈 0.01 ）. [ Conclusion] The study provides a theoreti- cal basis for the applications of TP and VE in animal production.

Effects of Dietary Picria felterrae Lour Extracts on Serum Biochemical Indexes and Immune Function of Guangxi Partridge Chickens

[Objective] This trial was to investigate the effect of dietary Picria felterrae Lour extracts on serum biochemical indexes and immune function of Guangxi Partridge chickens. [Method] Totally 500 individuals of 1-day-old Guangxi Partridge chickens were randomly divided into five groups, five replicates each group and 20 chicks each replicate. Groups A, B and C were treatment groups supplemented with 0.70%, 0.35% and0.175% P. felterrae extracts in the basal diet, respectively; group D was a medical control group supplemented with 0.01% colistin sulfate premix in the basal diet; and group E was a control group with basal diet. Serum samples were collected from 10 chickens in each group at 21, 35 and 49 days of age, to analyze the biochemical and immune indexes. [Result] It had no significant impact on serum TP and GLU contents of chickens by adding different levels of P. felterrae extracts in the basal diet（P 〉0.05）. However, at 21 and 35 days of age, the TBILI content of chickens in groups A, B and C were extremely lower or significantly lower than that in group E（ P〈0.01; P〈0.05）. At 35 days of age, the serum AKP activities in groups A, B and C were extremely higher than that in group E（P〈0.01）, and the serum GOT activities at 21 and 35 days of age in group C were significantly higher than that in group E（P〈0.05）. At 49 days of age, the serum Ig G content in groups A, B and C and the IL-2 content in group B and group C were significantly lower or extremely lower than that in group E（ P〈0.05; P〈0.01）; the T-AOC content in group B was significantly higher than that in group E（P〈0.05）; the GSH content in groups A, B and C were significantly higher than that in group E（ P〈0.05）. Adding different levels of P. felterrae extracts in the diet significantly decreased the TBILI content, reduced the Ig G, IL-2 and IL-6 contents, and improved the AKP and GOT activities and the T-AOC and GSH contents of Guangxi Partridge chicken. [Conclusion] Adding 0.35% P. felterrae extracts in the basal diet received the best effort.

Evaluation on the fresh eating quality of tree peony flowers

Tree peony(Paeonia suffruticosa)is an ornamental and medicinal plant in China.The fresh eating of flower petals has gradually become a new idea for further development.This study analyzed the sensory indexes,nutritional indexes and antioxidant indexes of fresh flowers of five cultivars,namely,‘Fengdan’(P.ostia‘Fengdan’),‘Xiangyu’(P.suffruticosa‘Xiangyu’),‘Zhaofen’(P.suffruticosa‘Zhanfen’),‘Luoyanghong’(P.suffruticosa‘Luoyanghong’)and‘High Noon’(P.‘High Noon’),to provide a theoretical basis for eating fresh tree peony flowers.The aroma volatiles of petals mainly comprised terpenes,alcohols and alkanes.‘Luoyanghong’and‘High Noon’have brighter colors.The taste test showed that‘Luoyanghong’,‘High Noon’and‘Xiangyu’were the most palatable.‘High Noon’contained the highest soluble sugar content,‘Luoyanghong’contained the highest starch and vitamin C(VC)levels,and‘Zhaofen’contained the highest soluble protein content.The contents of bioactive compounds were the highest in‘Luoyanghong’,and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity was the highest in‘Xiangyu’.The petals were rich in essential amino acids,with the highest amount in‘Xiangyu’.‘Luoyanghong’and‘High Noon’showed strong antioxidant capacity.Therefore,tree peony flowers have excellent sensory qualities,abundant nutrients and strong antioxidant activity and could be further developed as a food to be eaten fresh.The results showed that tree peony flowers had great edible potential.Flowers of red and yellow cultivars can be considered for fresh eating on the basis of the traditional consumption of white and pink tree peony flowers.