Effects of honeycomb extract on the growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, antioxidant function and intestinal microorganisms of yellow bantam broilers.

Although many studies have already described the physiological effects of bee products, such as honey, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly, on livestock farming, the health benefits of the honeycomb are still not fully understood. The problem of drug residues and bacterial resistance caused by the abuse of antibiotics is becoming increasingly serious. For this reason, a safe, green substitute has to be sought. We conducted a comparative study of honeycomb extract (HE) and an antibiotic on growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, antioxidant function and intestinal microorganisms of yellow bantam broilers. A total of four hundred eighty 21-day-old female yellow bantam broilers were randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 replicates of 16 birds each. The 5 groups were as follows, with birds receiving a basal diet supplemented with 150 ppm (mg/kg) of chlortetracycline (CTE), a basal diet without HE (control group), and a basal diet with 0.1%, 0.15%, or 0.2% HE for 60 days. The results showed that HE addition significantly increased average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), decrease feed gain ratio (F/G) from 21 to 80 and 51 to 80 days of age compared to the control group, with all 3 HE addition groups having statistically identical values to the antibiotic group. HE implementation dramatically increased spleen index, serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM,), glutathione peroxide (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and total cecum bacteria and Lactobacillus compared to the control group, numerically at the same level as, or even better than, the antibiotic group. HE and CTE both markly reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration compared to the control group, with higher concentrations of HE reducing the effect more dramatically than antibiotics. Both HE and CTE significantly raised dressed yield compared to the control group. In summary, HE, as a potential antibiotic alternative, improved growth performance, carcass traits, immune function, serum antioxidant capacity and intestinal microorganisms in yellow bantam broilers. According to the cubic regression analyses, the recommended supplemental dose of HE was calculated to be 0.15 to 0.17% for female yellow bantam broilers between 21 and 80 d of age.

Effects of dietary chromium propionate on laying performance, egg quality, serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant status of laying ducks under heat stress.

Recent studies have shown that chromium (Cr) could alleviate the negative effects of heat stress on livestock and poultry, but there is little information available to laying ducks. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary addition of chromium propionate on laying performance, egg quality, serum biochemical parameters and antioxidant status of laying ducks under hot (average 32 °C) and humid (average 75% relative humidity) summer conditions. A total of 900 66-week-old weight- and laying-matched Shanma laying ducks were randomly divided into five treatments, each with 6 replicates of 30 individually caged birds. The birds were fed either a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with either 200, 400, 600, or 800 µg/kg Cr as chromium propionate. All laying ducks were given feed and water ad libitum for 5 weeks. The results showed that dietary supplementation with chromium propionate significantly increased the laying rate and yolk colour score (P < 0.05). Treatment with 400 µg/kg Cr as chromium propionate significantly decreased the feed/egg ratio by 5.4% (P < 0.05). Increased supplemental Cr from 0 to 800 µg/kg resulted in an increase in albumen height and the Haugh unit linearly (P < 0.05). Increased supplemental Cr decreased serum cortisol (P < 0.001, linear; P = 0.008, quadratic), heat shock protein-70 (P < 0.001, linear; P = 0.007, quadratic) and glucose (P = 0.007, linear), whereas it increased serum insulin (P = 0.011, Linear), total protein (P = 0.006, linear; P = 0.048, quadratic) and albumin (P = 0.035, linear; P = 0.088, quadratic). Dietary Cr levels increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, the total antioxidant capacity linearly and quadratically (P < 0.05). A linear and quadratic (P < 0.05) decrease of the malondialdehyde concentrations in response to dietary Cr level was observed. These results indicated that dietary supplementation of Cr as chromium propionate, particularly at 800 µg/kg could beneficially affect the laying rate, egg quality and antioxidant function, as well as modulate the blood biochemical parameters of laying ducks under heat stress conditions.

The effect of curcumin on bladder tumor in rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Bladder cancer is the most commonly malignant tumor in the urogenital tract, only next to prostate cancer with a higher incidence in China. Curcumin is the major component of curcuma longa and has multiple biological effects including anti-tumor. This study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin on bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SPF-grade Wistar rats were used for establishing bladder cancer model through injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Rats were then randomly divided into experimental, model and control group. 160 µmol/L curcumin were applied in the experimental group while model group received an equal volume of saline. General condition, morphology changes and cell cycle of bladder cancer cells were examined. Meanwhile, apoptotic proteins including Bcl-2, Bax and surviving were also measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Model rats displayed fever, hematuria, decreased food and water intake, dispersed fur, lower body mass and decreased activity. Under microscopy, the bladder wall was thickened with the cauliflower-like lesion, in which significant necrotic and hemorrhagic lesions were found. Experimental group rats improved general condition without decrease of body mass. The only minor lesion was found without significant necrosis or hemorrhage without invasion into the muscular layer. The number of G1 phase cells was increased while S phase cell number was decreased after drug intervention, suggesting suppression of G1/S transition (p < 0.05). In curcumin-treated rats, the expression of Bcl-2 and Survivin were significantly decreased while Bax protein expression was significantly elevated (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Curcumin can inhibit the growth and invasion of rat bladder cancer cells, possibly through the arresting of G1/S transition and subsequently increased apoptosis.