Increasing the α-tocopherol content and lipid oxidative stability of meat through dietary Cistus ladanifer L. in lamb fed increasing levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid rich vegetable oils.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of Cistus ladanifer L. and vegetable oils on intramuscular fat composition, muscle antioxidant status and lipid oxidative stability, and explore the mechanism by which dietary Cistus ladanifer limits the lipid oxidation. Lambs were assigned 9 diets, corresponding to 3 levels of Cistus ladanifer (50, 100 and 200 g/kg DM) and 3 levels of oil (0, 40 and 80 g/kg DM). Oil supplementation increased highly peroxidizable fatty acid content and the peroxidizability index (P < .05). Muscle phenolic content, reducing ability and radical scavenging ability were not affected by Cistus ladanifer (P > .05). The highest level of Cistus ladanifer enhanced muscle resistance to lipid oxidation (P = .006) and increased α-tocopherol content (P = .005), reducing meat lipid oxidation over 7 days of storage (P < .001). Results showed that Cistus ladanifer has a protective effect against lipid oxidation through increasing α-tocopherol concentration in the muscle.

Inclusion of the aerial part and condensed tannin extract from Cistus ladanifer L. in lamb diets - Effects on growth performance, carcass and meat quality and fatty acid composition of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat.

Thirty-six lambs were used to evaluate the effect of three levels of Cistus ladanifer condensed tannins (CT; 0, 1.25 and 2.5%) and two ways of CT supply (C. ladanifer aerial parts and C. ladanifer CT extract) on lamb growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and FA composition of intramuscular and subcutaneous fat. The basal diet was composed of dehydrated lucerne supplemented with 60 g/kg of soybean oil. The highest amount of CT (2.5%) had detrimental effects on growth performance, particularly when the aerial part of C. ladanifer was used. Conversely, 1.25% CT in diets did not affect growth performance and meat quality, and inclusion of C. ladanifer CT extract in diet at this level increased t11-18:1, but not c9,t11-18:2 content in fat. Feeding C. ladanifer CT extract might be a good approach for enhancing the nutritional value of ruminant fat, but further studies are needed to ensure upregulation of endogenous synthesis of c9,t11-18:2.