Ginseng Extract Ameliorates the Negative Physiological Effects of Heat Stress by Supporting Heat Shock Response and Improving Intestinal Barrier Integrity: Evidence from Studies with Heat-Stressed Caco-2 Cells, C. elegans and Growing Broilers

Abstract

Climatic changes and heat stress have become a great challenge in the livestock industry, negatively affecting, in particular, poultry feed intake and intestinal barrier malfunction. Recently, phytogenic feed additives were applied to reduce heat stress effects on animal farming. Here, we investigated the effects of ginseng extract using various in vitro and in vivo experiments. Quantitative real-time PCR, transepithelial electrical resistance measurements and survival assays under heat stress conditions were carried out in various model systems, including Caco-2 cells, Caenorhabditis elegans and jejunum samples of broilers. Under heat stress conditions, ginseng treatment lowered the expression of HSPA1A (Caco-2) and the heat shock protein genes hsp-1 and hsp-16.2 (both in C. elegans), while all three of the tested genes encoding tight junction proteins, CLDN3, OCLN and CLDN1 (Caco-2), were upregulated. In addition, we observed prolonged survival under heat stress in Caenorhabditis elegans, and a better performance of growing ginseng-fed broilers by the increased gene expression of selected heat shock and tight junction proteins. The presence of ginseng extract resulted in a reduced decrease in transepithelial resistance under heat shock conditions. Finally, LC-MS analysis was performed to quantitate the most prominent ginsenosides in the extract used for this study, being Re, Rg1, Rc, Rb2 and Rd. In conclusion, ginseng extract was found to be a suitable feed additive in animal nutrition to reduce the negative physiological effects caused by heat stress.

Heat stress on microbiota composition, barrier integrity, and nutrient transport in gut, production performance, and its amelioration in farm animals

“…In chickens, HS (20 °C vs. 30 °C) increased the activity and expression of apical SGLT1 in intestine by approximately 50%, but no effects on this transporter was noted in the pair-feeding, indicating that increased transported activity was not resulted from decreased feed intake [89]. During hyperthermia, redistribution of blood away from the splanchnic area to the periphery occurs in order to maximize radiant heat dissipation from the body [91]. Therefore, thermal stress may decrease blood flow to the intestine, motility of the digestive system, and secretion of digestive enzymes [12] which could affect digestion, absorption and metabolism of nutrients including minerals.…”

Phenolic and Non-Polar Fractions of the Extracts from Fruits, Leaves, and Twigs of Elaeagnus rhamnoides (L.) A. Nelson—The Implications for Human Barrier Cells

“…Because of barrier function a lot of immunocompetent cells are also located close to intestinal epithelium forming gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Macrophages, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells form organized structures named Peyer's patches covered by follicle-associated epithelium and participate in both intestinal and systemic immunity [15,16,22]. Intercellular cross-talk between epithelial cells and immunocompetent cells is based on both direct contact and secreted signaling molecules, such as cytokines/chemokines.…”

Immunomodulatory Activities of Selected Essential Oils

“…Tea tree oil was shown to reduce diarrhea and improve growth performance in piglets [ 16 ]. Also, ginseng extracts and their EOs were shown to induce immunostimulatory effects, for example by increasing tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) and IFNγ levels or enhancing phagocytic activity [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”