Modulation of intestinal morphology and microbiota by dietary Macleaya cordata extract supplementation in Xuefeng Black-boned Chicken
Songchang Guo,
Lulu Liu,
Jiaxing Lei,
Xiangyong Qu,
Changqing He,
Shengguo Tang,
Bin Xiao,
Peng Li,
Qiaoqin Gao,
Fulin Lan,
Shiwei Zhu,
Xiaoyan Zou
Affiliations
Songchang Guo
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Lulu Liu
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Jiaxing Lei
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Xiangyong Qu
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Changqing He
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Shengguo Tang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Bin Xiao
Hunan Yunfeifeng Agricultural Co. Ltd, Huaihua 418200, China
Peng Li
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Qiaoqin Gao
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Fulin Lan
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Poultry Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
Shiwei Zhu
Hunan Yunfeifeng Agricultural Co. Ltd, Huaihua 418200, China
Xiaoyan Zou
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; College of Horticulture, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan 410128, China; Corresponding author at: College of Horticulture, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan 410128, China.
Antibiotics are commonly overused to prevent livestock from diseases and to increase production performance. As potential substitutes of antibiotics, plant extracts have attracted the attention of researchers. It was known to all that addition of Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) to the food could advance immunity, intestinal health and animal performance. Thus, it was conducted to investigate the influence of MCE (0, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg, with six replicate pens/treatment and 24 hens/pen) on intestinal morphology and microbial diversity in different intestinal segments in Xuefeng black-boned chicken in this study. The results showed that MCE supplement (100, 150 and 200 mg/kg) significantly diminished (P < 0.05) the crypt depth of the jejunum as compared to basal diet group. The 100 mg/kg group displayed a marked increase (P < 0.05), compared with 0 and 200 mg/kg group, in ileum microbial diversity as represented by the Shannon's index. In the cecum, treatment of MCE significantly decreased (P < 0.01) the Firmicutes, but Deferribacteres in 200 mg/kg MCE group were significantly raised (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we found that MCE improved intestinal morphology and reduced the crypt depth in jejunum. Together, addition of 200 mg/kg MCE modulated intestinal microbiota, increased beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus. Adding 100 mg/kg MCE to diet increased bacterial community diversity and relative abundance in jejunum and ileum, but had no effect on cecum microbial diversity.
