Effects of selenium source and level on growth performance, antioxidative ability and meat quality of broilers

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of selenium(Se) source and level on growth performance, carcass traits, antioxidative ability and meat quality of broilers. A total of 320 one-d-old Arbor Acres commercial broilers were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments with 8 replicates in a completely randomized design involving a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments plus one Se-unsupplemented basal diet control for 42 d. The two Se sources were sodium selenite and Se yeast, and the two supplemental Se levels were 0.20 and 0.40 mg Se kg^–1. The results showed that broilers fed the Se-supplemented diets had higher(P<0.05) average daily gain and average daily feed intake from 22 to 42 d of age, eviscerated yield and abdominal fat percentages, Se concentrations and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) activities in breast and thigh muscles on d 42, and lower(P<0.05) feed/gain from 1 to 21 and 22 to 42 d of age, mortality from 22 to 42 d of age and malondialdehyde(MDA) concentration in thigh muscle on d 42 than those fed the control diet. Broilers fed the diets supplemented with Se yeast had higher(P<0.05) p H value and lower(P<0.05) shear force in thigh muscle than those fed the diets supplemented with sodium selenite. Additionally, broilers fed the diets supplemented with 0.40 mg Se kg^–1 had lower(P<0.05) shear force in thigh muscle and higher(P<0.05) GSH-Px activities in breast and thigh muscles than those fed the diets supplemented with 0.20 mg Se kg^–1. Furthermore, broilers fed the diet supplemented with Se yeast at 0.40 mg Se kg^–1 had higher(P<0.05) Se concentrations in breast and thigh muscles than those fed the diet supplemented with Se yeast at 0.20 mg Se kg^–1, but no differences(P<0.05) were observed in these indices of broilers fed the diets supplemented with sodium selenite between 0.20 and 0.40 mg Se kg^–1. The results from the present study indicated that supplemental Se could increase the growth performance, muscle Se concentration and antioxidative ability of broilers;and the Se from Se yeast was more effective than the Se from sodium selenite in improving meat quality of broilers.

Regulatory effects of dietary L-Arg supplementation on the innate immunity and antioxidant ability in broiler chickens

Here, we investigated the effect of dietary arginine（Arg） supplementation on innate immunity and the antioxidant ability of broiler chickens. The experiment was designed as a single-factorial arrangement（n=8 cages/treatment, six birds/cage）, and we used four dietary Arg concentrations（10.0, 15.0, 20.0 or 25.0 g kg–1）. On day 21, the birds were killed to obtain spleen, cecal tonsil and liver samples to determine the gene expression and antioxidant characteristics. Increasing the Arg concentration linearly decreased（P0.05） the m RNA expression of splenic interleukin-18（IL-18） and tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）. Dietary Arg supplementation quadratically decreased（P0.05） the expression of interleukin-1b（IL-1b） and interferon-γ（IFN-γ） m RNA in the spleen. Increasing Arg concentrations linearly and quadratically reduced the expression of IL-18 m RNA in the spleen. Meanwhile, increasing dietary Arg supplementation linearly and quadratically increased the lymphotactin m RNA（P0.05） expression, and linearly increased the macrophage inflammatory protein-1β（MIP-1β） and toll-like receptor 15（TLR15） m RNA expression in the cecal tonsils. Dietary Arg supplementation linearly（P0.05） increased the glutathione peroxidase（GSH-Px）, catalase（CAT）, and lysozyme（LZM） activities in the liver. However, the malondialdehyde（MDA） activity in the liver was not influenced by the dietary Arg concentration（P0.05）. No significant（P0.05） effect was found on the activity of superoxide dismutase（SOD） in the liver. Thus high levels of Arg supplementation（20.0 g kg^（–1）） may potentially suppress the innate immunity of broiler chickens, and dietary Arg supplementation enhances the antioxidant activity in broiler chickens.

Formulation and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation of Theaflavin Effervescent Tablet

Theaflavins(TFs),as the major polyphenolic components of fermented tea,possess beneficial effects on human health.In this study,the effervescent tablets based on theaflavins were developed.The optimal formulation of TF effervescent tablets was obtained by response surface methodology with the Box-Behnken design.Then,the physiochemical properties were evaluated,including hardness,friability,effervescent time and pH of the solution.At last,the antioxidant ability of TF effervescent tablets was studied through DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay.According to the results,the optimal formulation of the tablets contained TF powder 9.09%,disintegrating agent 43.80%(the weight ratio of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate was 1:1),aspartame 1.86%,PEG-6003%,and mannitol in balance.With the wet granulation method,the TF effervescent tablets displayed suitable hardness,fast disintegration time,good color,pleasant taste and high antioxidant activity.This study demonstrated that the TF effervescent tablets could be a valuable product for the supplement market and contribute to promoting practical application of TFs.

Advances in antioxidative nanozymes for treating ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is one of the most common public diseases that increase mortality.In the ischemic brain,blood flow restoration can cause the generation of excess reactive oxygen species(ROS).Endogenous anti-oxidases in the living system,including catalase(CAT)and superoxide dismutase(SOD),can consume the excess ROS by catalysis to regulate inflammation.However,these natural enzymes are difficult to be widely used in the treatment of stroke.Taking advantages of high stability,low cost,and long-term storage,antioxidative nanozymes-mediated treatments have been proven as a promising method against ischemic stroke.To highlight the progress,we summarize the advances in nanozymes with the antioxidative ability for treating ischemic stroke.It is believed that such a promising therapeutic strategy of antioxidative nanozymes will significantly contribute to the field of ischemic stroke.We expect that antioxidative nanozymes will play significant roles in both basic research and clinical applications.

Cold hardiness estimation of Pinus densiflora var. zhangwuensis based on changes in ionic leakage, chlorophyll fluorescence and other physiological activities under cold stress

Pinus densiflora var. zhangwuensis grows fast, and its drought and salinity resistance are better than Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica. We compared cold hardiness and mechanisms of cold hardiness between the two species, to provide a theoretical basis for promoting and applying P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis in cold regions. A cold stress experiment was carried out on 3-year-old plantlets of P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis and P. sylvestris var. mon- golica after hardening at five temperature regimes, 5, -10, -20, -40, and -60 ℃, respectively. Some indices of needle samples for both species were measured, such as relative conductivity （REL）, maximum photochemical efficiency （Fv/Fm）, malondialdehyde （MDA）, catalase （CAT）, proline （Pro）, soluble sugar （SS）, and stomata density. REL and MDA values of both species after hard- ening had the same trend of increasing, but the trend was opposite in Fv/Fm value with increasing cold stress. Com- pared with P. sylvestris var. mongolica, the P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis had smaller increases in REL and MDA, and a smaller decline in Fv/Fm during cold stress. Com- pared to the control, REL growth of P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis and P. sylvestris var. mongolica at -60 ℃were 0.41 and 0.60, and MDA growth was 29.94 mol g-1 FW and 47.80 mol g-1 FW, and Fv/Fm declines were 0.08 and 0.27. Half-lethal temperatures （LT50） calculated by logistic equation for P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis and P. sylvestris var. mongolica were -58.23 and -50.34 ℃, respectively. These data suggest that cold resistance of P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis is stronger than that of P. sylvestris var. mongolica. Cold-resistance mechanisms of the two species differed. In response to cold stress, P. sylvestris var. mongolica had strong osmotic adjustment ability because of higher Pro and SS content, while P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis had strong antioxidant ability due to stronger CAT activity. Stomata density and diameter of P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis were smaller, as were single leaf area and number of leaves per plant, both characteristics promoting survival in a cold environment. Greater shoot height and total biomass of seedlings of P. densiflora var. zhangwuensis might be another reason for its stronger cold tolerance.

Extraction and Antioxidant Functions of Polysaccharides from Seaweed

Dried seaweed powder was used as the raw material to extract polysaccharides by ethanol precipitation after water bath. Extraction temperature, extrac- tion duration, solution pH and solid to liquid ratio were selected as technical parameters which required to be optimized. With the extraction rate of seaweed poly- saccharides as an index, single-factor experiment and orthogonal experiment were carried out to determine the optimal extraction technique. Seaweed polysaceharides were extracted with the optimal technical parameters to analyze the biological activities. Savage method was used to process seaweed polysaceharide extract. In vitro biological activities of preliminarily purified seaweed polysaeeharides were investigated successively, including reducing ability, antioxidant ability and antibacterial activity. The results showed that there was a positive correlation between polysaccharide concentration and its reducing ability, antioxidant ability and antibacterial activity. Furthermore, there was also a correlation among the reducing ability, antioxidant ability and antibacterial activity of seaweed polysaecharides; the relation- ship between each two of these three indicators was similar to positive linear correlation.

Effects of Diet with "Lianteng" Additive of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Blood Biochemical Indexes,Immune and Antioxidant Function of Guangxi Sanhuang Chickens

[Objectives]This trial was conducted to investigate the effects of diet with"Lianteng"additive of Chinese herbal medicine on blood biochemical indexes,immune and antioxidant function of Guangxi Sanhuang chickens.[Methods]480 Guangxi Sanhuang chickens at the age of 1 d were divided into 4 groups randomly and each group was assigned to 6 replicates with 20 chicks in each replicate;groups A,B and C were treatment groups and fed basal diets with 0.1%,0.2%and 0.4%of"Lianteng"additive of Chinese herbal medicine respectively during a trial of 70 d.Group D was control group and fed only basal diet.The serum samples were taken from 6 chicks in each group at the age of 21,35 and 49 d respectively and analyzed for biochemical,immune and antioxidant parameters in serum.[Results]Results from the trial showed that no difference was found in serum content of GLU,TG,TP,TC,and UN in the measurement at the age of 21,35 and 49 d(P>0.05);however,the content of ALB from groups A and B at 35 d was significantly higher than that from group D(P<0.01),and the ALB content from group B at 49 d was also higher than that from group D(P<0.05);the IgM content at 49 d from group A was lower than that from group D(P<0.05),in addition to this,there was no differences found in the contents of IgG,IgM and IFN-y among groups A,B,C and D during the trial(P>0.05);but the content of IL-2 from groups A and B at 49 d was significantly greater than that from group D(P<0.05);T-AOC from groups A,B and C at 49 d was very significantly higher than that from group D(P<0.01),and the one of group B at 35 d was still obviously higher than that of group D(P<0.05);also at 49 d,the GSH content in groups A and B was much greater than that in group D(P<0.01);T-SOD activity of group B and C at 35 d was distinctly greater than that of group D(P<0.05).[Conclusions]It can be concluded that the addition of 0.2%of"Lianteng"additive of Chinese herbal medicine in diet can increase immune function in a certain extent and promote the antioxidant ability observably for Guangxi Sanhuang chickens.

Changes in phenolic content,composition,and antioxidant activity of blood oranges during cold and on-tree storage

Citrus fruits are rich in phenolic compounds that possess several health benefits.However,few studies have focused on the changes in phenolic compounds in citrus fruits during postharvest storage.This study dynamically monitored the phenolic content,components and antioxidant activity of‘Tarocco’blood oranges during a period of 12-week cold storage and on-tree storage,respectively.We investigated the alteration mechanism of phenolic compounds in blood oranges by evaluating phenylpropanoid pathway-related enzyme activities and gene expression.Results showed that flavanones were the main phenolic compounds in blood oranges.Both storage methods mainly stimulated the accumulation of phenolic acids to improve total phenolic content,which reached the maximum at week 12.Nonetheless,blood oranges had a higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity under on-tree storage than cold storage.Furthermore,the enzyme activities and gene expression of the phenylpropanoid pathway demonstrated that the accumulation of phenolics in blood oranges during storage was highly related to the activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway.These results demonstrate that on-tree storage is a potential approach for extending the supply period of blood orange from the perspective of phenolic compounds.

Study on the Properties of MetaIIophthalocyanine-Fe_3O_4 Nanoparticles Composite

The solubility , antioxidation ability, thermal stability, coercivity Hc and long term stability of MPc-Fe3O4-nanoparticles composite(M=Co, Cu, Ni, Mn) have been studied. The results show that MFc-Fe3O4 nanoparticles composite can be easily dissolved in dilute acid. The dissolving rate of different MPc-Fe3O4 nanoparticles composite is in the following order:M=Mn-M = Co<M=Cu<M=Ni. The antioxidation ability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles are improved greatly after their complex with MPc and there is good relationship between Toxidation of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and n , the complex layers of MPc on the surface of the composite. The results also show that the thermal stability of Fe3O4 nanoparticles increases greatly and the Hc ot them decreases dramatically after Fe3O4 nanoparticles form nanoscale composite with MPc. MPc-Fe3O4 nanoparticles composite have high long term stability.

Involvement of triadimefon induced early ABA-dependent H2O2 accumulation in soybean against water stress

The present study showed that pretreatment of triadimefon(TDM),a triazole compound,could improve tolerance of soybean seedlings to subsequent water stress.TDM pretreatment resulted in early and late rise in superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)activities,and upregulation of ascorbate(As A)content in non-stressed and water-stressed seedlings,leading to late increase in net photosynthetic rate(Pn),late decrease in hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)and electrolyte leakage in stressed ones.These TDM-induced changes were blocked by application of abscisic acid(ABA)biosynthesis inhibitor tungstate,which inhibited early rise of ABA and H2O2contents in non-stressed and stressed seedlings.However,ABA pretreatment overcomed the effects of this inhibitor.Application of NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium(DPI),polyamine oxidase(PAO)inhibitor 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine(2-HEH)and H2O2scavenger dimethylthiourea(DMTU)prevented early TDM-induced rise of H2O2content.DPI,2-HEH and DMTU also decreased SOD,CAT and As A levels,but did not affect ABA content during early and late phases in both seedlings pretreated with TDM.In addition,these chemicals decreased Pn,and increased H2O2content and electrolyte leakage during late phase in TDM-pretreated stressed seedlings.Overall,these results indicated that TDM pretreatment alleviated adverse effects of water stress on soybean seedlings,which was at least in part,due to increase of antioxidant capacity and decrease of oxidative damage induced by early ABA-dependent H2O2generation.

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.

Effect of gestation dietary methionine-to-lysine ratio on methionine metabolism and antioxidant ability of high-prolific sows

The uptake and metabolism of methionine(Met)are critical for epigenetic regulation,redox homeostasis,and embryo development.Our previous study showed that appropriate supplementation of dietary Met promoted the birth weight and placental angiogenesis of high-prolific sows.To further explore the metabolic effect of Met on pregnant sows,we have evaluated the influence of dietary Met level on Met metabolism,and the relationship between metabolites of Met and reproductive performance,antioxi-dant ability,and placental angiogenesis throughout the gestation of high-prolific sows.Sixty sows(the 3rd parity,Large White)were randomly divided into 5 groups that were fed diets with standardized ileal digestible(SID)methionine-to-lysine(Met:Lys)ratios of 0.27(control),0.32,0.37,0.42,and 0.47 from the mating day(gestational d 0,G0d)until the farrowing day.HPLC-MS/MS analysis was used to simulta-neously evaluate the metabolites related to Met,e.g.S-adenosylmethionine(SAM),S-adenosylhomo-cysteine(SAH),homocysteine(Hcy),cysteine(Cys),and glutathione(GSH).The concentration of SAM and SAH in plasma had significant fluctuations,especially in late pregnancy.Increasing dietary Met sup-plementation significantly improved the plasma SAM and methylation potential(SAM-to-SAH ratio)at d 114 of pregnancy(G114d).Moreover,a positive association of the plasma SAM concentration at G114d was observed with the litter weight of born alive(P<0.05;R2=0.58).Furthermore,Hcy concentration in plasma was at the lowest level for 0.37 ratio group at G114d.However,it significantly increased during late pregnancy.Moreover,there were negative correlations between plasma Hcy concentration at G114d(P<0.05)and the placental vascular density in the fold and stroma(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A)in the placenta tissue of 0.37 ratio group increased significantly(P<0.05).Collectively,these findings indicate that dietary Met:Lys ratio(0.37 to 0.57)in the pregnant diet dose not influence the antioxidant ability of the high-prolific sows;however,the improvement of fetal development and placental angiogenesis of high-prolific sows by supplementation of Met are closely associated to the key Met-related metabolite of SAM and Hcy,respectively.

Zinc alleviates the heat stress of primary cultured hepatocytes of broiler embryos via enhancing the antioxidant ability and attenuating the heat shock responses

Zinc(Zn)has been shown to attenuate the adverse effects of heat stress on broilers,but the mechanisms involving this process remain unclear.We aimed to investigate possible protective mechanisms of Zn on primary cultured hepatocytes of broiler embryos subjected to heat stress.Three experiments were conducted.In Exp.1,hepatocytes were treated with 0,50,100,200,or 400μmol/L added Zn as inorganic Zn sulfate(iZn)for 12,24 or 48 h.In Exp.2,cells were exposed to 40℃(a normal temperature[NT])and 44℃(a high temperature[HT])for 1,2,4,6,or 8 h.In Exp.3,cells were preincubated with 0 or 50μmol/L Zn as iZn or organic Zn lysine chelate(oZn)for 8 h under NT,and then incubated with the same Zn treatments under NT or HT for 4 or 6 h.The biomarkers of antioxidative status and heat stress in cells were measured.The results in Exp.1 indicated that 50μmol/L Zn and 12 h incubation were the optimal conditions for increasing antioxidant ability of hepatocytes.In Exp.2,the 4 or 6 h incubation under HT was effective in inducing heat shock responses of hepatocytes.In Exp.3,HT elevated(P<0.01)malondialdehyde content and expressions of heat shock protein 70(HSP70)mRNA and protein,as well as HSP90 mRNA.However,Zn supplementation increased(P<0.05)copper zinc superoxide dismutase(CuZnSOD)activity and metallothionein mRNA expression,and effectively decreased(P<0.05)the ex-pressions of HSP70 mRNA and protein,as well as HSP90 mRNA.Furthermore,oZn was more effective(P<0.05)than iZn in enhancing CuZnSOD activity of hepatocytes under HT.It was concluded that Zn(especially oZn)could alleviate heat stress of broiler hepatocytes via enhancing their antioxidant ability and attenuating heat shock responses.

Variation of photosynthesis,secondary metabolites and antioxidant activities in third generation of spaceflight-induced Salvia miltiorrhiza

Objective: Spaceflight has long been perceived as an effective way to improve the quantity and quality of plants with wide applications. In order to obtain stable and inheritable descendants of spaceflightinduced Salvia miltiorrhiza lines, we investigated and analyzed four lines m16, m50, m51, m57(three individuals of each line) and the ground control(three individuals) of the third generation of spaceflight-induced S. miltiorrhiza from primary/secondary metabolism and antioxidative abilities.Methods: A portable photosynthesis system(Li-6400) with red/blue LED light source was used to perform the photosynthetic characteristics to evaluate their primary productivity. The secondary metabolites(phenolic acids, tanshinones, total phenolics and flavonoids) and antioxidant activity of roots were analyzed to assess their quality.Results: Compared with control, line m16 presented weak photosynthetic ability, but high apparent quantum yield(AQY), higher contents of secondary metabolites, and stronger antioxidative abilities.Line m57 had a strong gas exchange ability, relatively higher secondary metabolites contents, and ascending antioxidative abilities. Lines m50 and m51 were in the middle level of lines m16 and m57.The principal component analysis for all the original data revealed three components including a rootrelated index, a leaf-related index, and a CO_(2) response parameter could be used to distinguish spaceflight-induced S. miltiorrhiza lines.Conclusion: Line m57 could be an appropriate material for the investigation of targeted breeding towards high production, and line m16 could be used to identify essential genes and unravel sophisticated pathways underlying the secondary metabolisms.