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Influence of Trans-anethole on the nutrient digestibility and intestinal barrier function in broilers
Caiyun Yu1, Jingfei Zhang1, Hao Zhang1
1College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P. R. China.
Poultry Science
|October 25, 2021
Summary
Dietary trans-anethole (TA) supplementation improved nutrient utilization and intestinal barrier function in broilers. The optimal dose of 400 mg/kg enhanced nutrient digestibility and gut health, positively impacting broiler performance.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Nutritional Science
- Poultry Science
Background:
- Dietary trans-anethole (TA) is a compound with potential benefits for animal health.
- Understanding its effects on broiler chickens is crucial for optimizing production.
- Intestinal barrier function and nutrient digestibility are key indicators of broiler health and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying dietary levels of trans-anethole (TA) on broiler growth performance.
- To evaluate the effects of TA on apparent nutrient digestibility and energy utilization.
- To assess TA's influence on the intestinal barrier function and gut microbiota composition in broilers.
Main Methods:
- Five dietary levels of TA (0, 200, 400, 600, 800 mg/kg) were administered to 320 Arbor Acres broilers for 42 days.
- Growth performance parameters, including average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed/gain (F/G), were recorded.
- Apparent nutrient digestibility, energy utilization, intestinal morphology, gene expression of nutrient transporters and tight junction proteins, and gut microbiota populations were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Dietary TA supplementation significantly increased ADFI but did not affect ADG, F/G, or body weight.
- Apparent metabolizable energy (AME, AMEn) and the digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM), and gross energy (GE) showed a quadratic increase with rising TA levels.
- The 400 mg/kg TA group exhibited enhanced ileal nutrient digestibility, increased mRNA levels of nutrient transporters (SGLT1, PepT1) and tight junction proteins (OCLN, CLDN-1, ZO-1, MUC2), improved villus height, and modulated gut microbiota (decreased E. coli, increased Bifidobacterium).
Conclusions:
- Dietary trans-anethole supplementation positively influences nutrient utilization and intestinal barrier function in broilers.
- The optimal concentration of TA for enhancing nutrient digestibility and gut health in broilers was determined to be 400 mg/kg.
- TA supplementation holds promise for improving broiler health and performance through enhanced nutrient absorption and a strengthened intestinal barrier.
