The Journal of Poultry Science (Oct 2010)
Oral Administration of Fucoxanthin Increases Plasma Fucoxanthinol Concentration and Antioxidative Ability and Improves Meat Color in Broiler Chicks
Abstract
Effects of the oral administration of fucoxanthin (FX), a major carotenoid of algae, on plasma fucoxanthinol (FX-OH) concentration, plasma antioxidative status, and meat color and lipid stability during chilling storage in broiler chicks were investigated. One-week-old male broiler chicks were divided into control and FX treatment groups. For the FX treatement group, FX was given into the crop of each bird at a volume of 10mg per day per bird for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of treatment, the plasma, liver, and superficial pectoral muscle were harvested. FX was not detected in either the plasma or liver of control and FX-treated birds, although FX-OH was detected in both the plasma and liver of the FX-treated group. Plasma antioxidative activity against a peroxyl radical derived from 2,2′-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride was observed in FX-treated chicks but not in control chicks. FX treatment did not affect the L* and a* values nor the lipid peroxide content of superficial pectoral muscle during 6 days of chilling storage. However, FX treatment increased the b* value of superficial pectoral muscle compared to the control group (P<0.05). These results indicated that FX was incorporated and converted into FX-OH during absorption, and that FX-OH acted as an antioxidant in chick plasma. It was also revealed that the FX treatment for broiler chicks affected their meat color. Our results suggested that FX is a potent antioxidative feed ingredient for enhancing both the plasma antioxidative status and meat color in broiler chicks.
Keywords