Protective effects of Fagopyrum dibotrys on oxidized oil-induced oxidative stress, intestinal barrier impairment, and altered cecal microbiota in broiler chickens.

The objective of this study was to evaluate protective effects of Fagopyrum dibotrys on antioxidant ability, intestinal barrier functions, and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens fed oxidized soybean oil. A total of 640 male Tiejiaoma broilers were randomly assigned to 8 treatments with 8 cages (10 birds per cage), as follows: birds fed basal diets containing fresh soybean oil and 0, 0.5, 1, or 2% F. dibotrys (FSCON, FSFAL, FSFAM, and FSFAH, respectively), and birds fed basal diets containing oxidized oil and 0, 0.5, 1, or 2% F. dibotrys (OSCON, OSFAL, OSFAM, and OSFAH). Oxidized oil significantly decreased transcription of Nrf2 and its downstream genes, including CAT and SOD1 in the jejunal mucosa, increased jejunal mucosa IL-6 mRNA expression, and decreased jejunal mucosa IL-22 mRNA expression and downregulated Claudin-1 and ZO-1; however, all these effects were reversed by F. dibotrys. Either 1 or 2% F. dibotrys alleviated the decreased liver SOD induced by oxidized oil on d 42. The decreased SOD and GPX, and increased MDA induced by oxidized oil were reversed by adding 1 or 2% F. dibotrys in jejunal mucosa. In addition, based on 16S rDNA, 2% F. dibotrys promoted the Firmicutes phylum and Candidatus_Arthromitus genera, but suppressed the Proteobacteria phylum and Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Escherichia genera. In summary, oxidative stress induced by oxidized oil was ameliorated by F. dibotrys upregulating transcription of Nrf2 and its downstream genes to restore redox balance, reinforcing the intestinal barrier via higher expression of Claudin-1/ZO-1, ameliorating the inflammatory response by regulating expression of IL-6 and IL-22, and facilitating growth of Candidatus_arthromitus in the cecum. Therefore, F. dibotrys has potential as a feed additive for poultry by ameliorating oxidative stress caused by oxidized oil, enhancing barrier function, and improving gut microbiome composition.

Dietary grape-seed procyanidins decreased postweaning diarrhea by modulating intestinal permeability and suppressing oxidative stress in rats.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of grape-seed procyanidins in controlling weaning diarrhea using a rat model. Weaned rats were fed either the basal diet or basal diet supplemented with either 250 mg/kg grape-seed procyanidins or 2000 mg/kg ZnO. Treated rats had better performance with a reduced incidence of diarrhea (P < 0.05). Both ZnO and grape-seed procyanidins significantly reduced urinary lactulose to mannitol ratios (P < 0.05) and enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of the intestinal mucosal tight junction proteins Ocln/ZO-1 (P < 0.05). Grape-seed procyanidins increased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and GSH while decreasing the level of MDA in the intestinal mucosa (P < 0.05). Furthermore, an in vitro investigation revealed that supplementation with grape-seed procyanidins in IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells significantly enhanced the expression of Ocln/ZO-1 under H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress. Collectively, these results indicate that grape-seed procyanidins have the potential to prevent weaning diarrhea by reducing intestinal permeability and improving antioxidant indices.