Forsythia suspensa Extract Has the Potential to Substitute Antibiotic in Broiler Chicken

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the potential for Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) to substitute for antibiotic in broiler chicken. First, a well-diffusion assay procedure and a 2-fold dilution method were used to determine the bacteriostatic activity of FSE on Escherichia coli K88, staphylococcus aureus, and salmonella was assayed. An inhibitory effect of FSE was observed on the growth of these bacteria. This effect seems to be dose depended, which disappeared after 25.00, 12.50, 1.56 mg/ml. Second, a 42-d trial with 252 broiler chickens (d 1, 38.7±1.1 g BW) was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of FSE in broiler chicken. The feeding program consisted of a starter diet from d 1 to 21 and a finisher diet from d 22 to 42. Dietary treatments included were: i) NC: negative control fed a corn-soybean meal based diet; ii) PC: positive control group fed based diet with chlortetracycline; and iii) FC: a test group fed with 100 mg FSE/kg diet. In this study growth performance did not differ among treatments during the starter period. However, dietary supplemental chlortetracycline and FSE increased (p<0.05) average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared with NC during the finisher and overall phase. Apparent digestibility of calcium on d 21, digestibility of energy and calcium on d 42 of FC was greater (p<0.05) than NC. Moreover, cecal Escherichia coli counts for birds from FC were lower (p<0.05) than NC. Dietary FSE supplementation also improved (p<0.05) villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratios in both duodenum and ileum and decreased (p<0.05) crypt depth in the duodenum. Duodenum villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in both duodenum and ileum from the FC group were also greater (p<0.05). Serum growth hormone and IGF-1 were not influenced by different treatments. Apparently, FSE has the potential to substitute for antibiotic in broiler chicken.

Effects of essential oil supplementation of a low‐energy diet on performance, intestinal morphology and microflora, immune properties and antioxidant activities in weaned pigs

“…Decreased number of pathogenic bacteria in the gut may improve proliferation of epithelial cells to build villus in the gut and thus enhance intestinal morphology (Mourāo et al 2005). Antioxidants may fix the intestine impairment caused by oxidative stress and improve intestinal morphology in weaned pigs (Han et al 2012). In this study, the change of microflora composition in the colon and rectum and increased serum total antioxidant capacity may partly explain the enhanced intestinal morphology.…”

“…Antioxidants may fix the intestine impairment caused by oxidative stress and improve intestinal morphology in weaned pigs (Han et al . ). In this study, the change of microflora composition in the colon and rectum and increased serum total antioxidant capacity may partly explain the enhanced intestinal morphology.…”

Effect of Forsythia suspensa extract and chito‐oligosaccharide alone or in combination on performance, intestinal barrier function, antioxidant capacity and immune characteristics of weaned piglets

“…A number of these markers in pigs fed FSE or COS either alone or in combination were lower than the CON group. Previous studies showed that FSE improved intestinal morphology and increased intestinal healthy microbiota in broilers (Han et al ; Zhang et al ) while COS reduced intestinal permeability in weaned piglets (Yang et al ). Our results were consistent with previous studies, and indicate FSE or COS could alleviate intestinal injury.…”

“…Meanwhile, to assess the effect of dietary treatment on feed utilization, total tract apparent nutrient digestibility was determined. It was reported that FSE and COS could promote gut health of pigs by modifying small‐intestinal mucosal architecture and modulating intestinal microbial ecosystem (Han et al ; Liu et al , ; Zhang et al ). In our study, dietary supplementation with COS, FSE or a combination of both increased dry matter and energy digestibility on days 14 and 28, which indicated a benefit to the gastrointestinal tract.…”

“…Forsythia suspensa Vahl (Oleaceae) is widely distributed in China, Japan, Korea and many European countries and its fruit extract is a famous traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of infections, such as acute nephritis, erysipelas, ulcers, pharyngitis, tonsillitis and pyrexia (National Pharmacopoeia Committee ). Moreover, the major active components of crude extract are phenethyl alcohol glycoside, lignan, pentacyclic triterpenoids and volatile oil, which have been reported to be antibacterial (Han et al ), anti‐viral (Li et al ), anti‐allergy (Hao et al ) and anti‐inflammatory (Zhong et al ; Pan et al ) effects. Recently, our laboratory has collectively demonstrated antioxidant properties and immune enhancement of Forsythia suspensa extract (FSE) in different animal models (Wang et al ; Lu et al ; Zhang et al ; Zeng et al ).…”