Lonicera flos and Cnicus japonicus extracts improved egg quality partly by modulating antioxidant status, inflammatory-related cytokines and shell matrix protein expression of oviduct in laying hens.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lonicera flos and Cnicus japonicus extracts (LCE) on the laying performance, egg quality, morphology, antioxidant status, inflammatory-related cytokines, and shell matrix protein expression of oviduct in laying hens. A total of 1,728 Roman Pink laying hens aged 73-wk-old were randomly assigned into 4 groups (18 replicates/group, 24 layers/replicate) fed basal diets supplemented with 0, 300, 500, and 1,000 mg of LCE per kg of diet, respectively. The trial lasted for 11 wk, including 2-wk adjustment period and 9-wk testing period. The results indicated that laying hens fed diets supplemented with LCE linearly increased egg weight, yolk color and shell thickness at wk 78 and albumen height, Haugh unit and shell thickness at wk 83 (P < 0.05). At wk 78, LCE groups linearly affected the hydrogen peroxide content in magnum (P < 0.05) and 300 mg/kg LCE groups had the highest catalase activity in isthmus (P < 0.05). At wk 83, LCE groups linearly reduced (P < 0.05) hydrogen peroxide content in the magnum and isthmus and malondialdehyde content in the uterus whereas increased catalase activity in isthmus (P < 0.05). Furthermore, LCE levels quadratically affected glutathione peroxidase activity in isthmus at wk 83 (P < 0.05). At wk 78, the mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and interferon-γ in isthmus and ovalbumin and ovocleidin-116 in uterus had linear effects in response to LCE levels (P < 0.05) and 1,000 mg/kg LCE group had the lowest mRNA expression of interleukin-6 in magnum (P < 0.05). At wk 83, LCE supplementation linearly decreased the mRNA expression of interleukin-1ß, interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α in magnum and tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase in uterus (P < 0.05). It is concluded that LCE improved egg quality partly by modulating antioxidant status, inflammatory-related cytokines and shell matrix protein expression of oviduct in laying hens.

The effects of enzyme supplementation on performance and digestive parameters of broilers fed corn-soybean diets.

The study was performed to evaluate the effects of enzyme supplementation on performance and digestive parameters of broilers fed corn-soybean diets from 1 to 21 d of age. A total of 480 one-day-old Cobb broilers were allocated to 1 of 4 treatments, with 6 replicate pens per treatment and 20 birds per pen. The experiment consisted of a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 dietary ME levels (high ME, energy 1, 12.13 MJ/kg or low ME, energy 2, 11.92 MJ/kg) and 2 levels of supplemental enzyme (including xylanase, 1,800 IU/g, ß-glucanase, 500 IU/g, and α-amylase, 800 U/g; 0 or 0.1% of diet). Enzyme supplementation had no effect on average daily weight gain, feed intake, and feed:gain. However, enzyme supplementation decreased the relative weight of the pancreas (d 7 and 21) in broilers fed the high ME diet. Low dietary ME level increased pancreatic lipase (d 7, P = 0.015), trypsin (d 14, P = 0.01; d 21, P = 0.014), amylase (d 21, P = 0.027), and pepsin (d 7, P = 0.001; d 21, P = 0.042) activity, but reduced pancreatic lipase (d 14, P = 0.03; d 21, P = 0.004) and amylase (d 14, P = 0.027) activity. Enzyme supplementation resulted in an increase in pancreatic amylase (d 7, P = 0.023), trypsin (d 7, P = 0.02; d 21, P = 0.004), lipase (d 21, P = 0.001), pepsin (d 7, P = 0.001; d 14, P = 0.004; d 21, P = 0.001), and maltase (d 14, P = 0.011, in ileum) activity. Moreover, broilers fed low dietary ME and enzyme supplementation diets had an increase in pancreatic lipase (d 21, P = 0.001) and pepsin (d 7, P = 0.001) activity. Low ME diets reduced jejunum villus height and jejunum and ileum crypt depth (d 7, 21). However, enzyme supplementation, especially enzyme supplementation in low ME diets, increased jejunum and ileum villus height and villus surface area. This suggested enzyme supplemented with low ME diet might be more effective to improve the activity of digestive enzymes and the absorptive capacity of the small intestine.

Effect of three mycotoxin adsorbents on growth performance, nutrient retention and meat quality in broilers fed on mould-contaminated feed.

1. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of an esterified glucomannan (EGM), a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) and a compound mycotoxin adsorbent (CMA) on performance, nutrient retention and meat quality in broilers fed on mould-contaminated feed. Mould-contaminated diets were prepared by replacing half of the non-contaminated maize in the basal diets with mould-contaminated maize, which contained 450·6 µg/kg of aflatoxin B1, 68·4 µg/kg of ochratoxin A and 320·5 µg/kg of T-2 toxin. 2. The mould-contaminated diet significantly decreased body weight gain (BWG) between 10 and 21 d, feed intake (FI) between 35 and 42 d, the apparent retention of crude lipid and phosphorus, and the lightness (L*) value of breast and thigh muscle. It also significantly increased the redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) value in breast muscle and the b* value in thigh muscle. 3. The addition of 0·2% HSCAS significantly increased FI between 35 and 42 d and the apparent retention of phosphorus. Supplementation with 0·1% CMA in the contaminated diet significantly improved BWG from 10 to 21 d, and increased FI from 35 to 42 d and from 10 to 42 d. CMA also significantly increased the apparent retention of crude lipid, crude protein, ash and phosphorus. All three mycotoxin-adsorbent treatments significantly improved the L* values of breast and thigh muscle when compared with the mould-contaminated group. Supplementation with 0·1% CMA in the contaminated diet significantly decreased b* value and improved tenderness in thigh muscle. 0·05% EGM significantly decreased b* value of thigh muscle compared to mould-contaminated group. 4. The results indicated that mycotoxins in contaminated feed retard growth, nutrient retention and meat quality, whereas the addition of 0·05% EGM, 0·2% HSCAS or 0·1% CMA prevents the adverse effects of mycotoxins to varying extents, with 0·1% CMA being the most effective adsorbent treatment.

Constituents from the leaves of Rhododendron latoucheae.

Twelve constituents from Rhododendron latoucheae were isolated. Among them, compounds 1 and 2, named rhodolatouside A and B, respectively, are new iridoids.