The effect of dietary supplementation with the natural carotenoids curcumin and lutein on broiler pigmentation and immunity

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of supplementation with 2 carotenoids, curcumin and lutein, on pigmentation and immunity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated broiler chicks. Two hundred forty 1-d-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly distributed into 3 dietary treatment groups: a basal diet without carotenoid supplementation (control), a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg of curcumin (CRM), or a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg/kg of lutein (LTN) for 42 d. The birds were vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND) and avian influenza on d 10. At 16, 18, and 20 d of age, half of the chicks in each group were injected in the abdominal region with either LPS (250 mg/kg of BW) or an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl. The intensity of the shank skin color (Roche color fan score) and the b* (yellow) values of the breasts and thighs were highest in lutein-supplemented broilers, followed by curcumin-supplemented and control broilers, whereas the a* (red) value of the thigh muscle was highest in curcumin-supplemented LPS-induced birds. At 42 d, the relative weight of the abdominal fat was lowest in the CRM-supplemented group, followed by the LTN-supplemented and control groups; the spleen weight was lower in the non-LPS-induced LTN-supplemented group than the LPS-induced control group. The ND and avian influenza titers were significantly higher in the CRM-supplemented group than in the other groups at 20 d; at 30 d, the ND titer was significantly higher in the LPS-induced LTN group. Supplementation with curcumin significantly promoted B and T lymphocyte proliferation in both LPS- and non-LPS-induced birds at 21 d. Curcumin also promoted B lymphocyte proliferation in non-LPS-induced birds at 42 d. Curcumin significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities at 42 d in non-LPS-treated birds, whereas lutein significantly increased the activities of these enzymes in LPS-induced birds. Both carotenoids significantly lowered lipid oxidation in the liver of supplemented birds. Thus, in broiler chickens, lutein-supplemented birds exhibited better pigmentation efficiency, whereas curcumin-supplemented birds exhibited improved immune responses.

Effects of dietary marigold extract supplementation on growth performance, pigmentation, antioxidant capacity and meat quality in broiler chickens

“…In the present study, we also found that the addition of marigold extract significantly increased the b* value of the thigh muscle and skin. This might be due to deposition of marigold extract pigments in the muscle and skin, and many previous studies have obtained similar results [13–15]. Castaneda et al [4] also indicated that natural pigments were generally more effective than synthetic ones in improving the yellowness of animal skin.…”

Eggshell Quality, Eggshell Structure and Small Intestinal Histology in Laying Hens Fed Dietary Pantoea-6®and Plant Extracts

“…In this study, Pantoea-6 ® was made from extraction of fermented wheat flour with Pantoea agglomerans, which is gram-negative bacteria (Hebishima et al, 2010). Rajput et al (2013) reported that LPS is a structural component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Xie et al (2000) found that LPS increased the total plasma protein concentration in chickens.…”

Carotenoids: biochemistry, pharmacology and treatment

“…Dietary lutein also induced both cell‐mediated and humoral immune responses (IgG) and enhanced the percentages of cells expressing CD5, CD4, CD8 and MHC II molecules in domestic canines (Kim et al ., ,b). Lutein‐supplemented birds showed superior efficiency of pigmentation as compared with curcumin‐supplemented birds; however, both groups of birds had reduced lipid oxidation in the liver (Rajput et al ., ). Lutein protected the retina from ischaemic/hypoxic damage by its anti‐oxidative, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic activities (Li et al ., ).…”