The effects of supplementation of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit polysaccharides-rich extract on antioxidant status and immune function in cashmere goats

Abstract

This experiment was designed to examine the effects of a dietary supplementation of polysaccharides-rich noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit extract (NFP) on the antioxidant enzyme activities, cytokines level, and expression of corresponding genes in blood of cashmere goats. Twelve castrated, 2-years-old male cashmere goats (45.44±3.30 kg of BW ± SD) were used in a 2 × 2 crossover design: the basal diet with or without (CON) supplementation of NFP at 4 g per kg DM (0.4%). Each period lasted for 29 d, including 1 wk for diet transition, 20 d for adaptation, and the last 2 d for sampling. The results showed that NFP supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the levels of nitric oxide, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in serum. The expressions of CAT, GPx4, TrxR, SOD1, IL-6, and TNF-α genes were up-regulated (P < 0.05), whereas the levels of malondialdehyde (P = 0.015) and reactive oxygen species (P = 0.051) in serum were reduced. The body weight gain of goats was increased (P = 0.006) with a non-significant increase of feed intake with NFP supplementation. In conclusion, dietary NFP supplementation enhanced the antioxidant status and immune function in blood of cashmere goats.

Advances in the Application of Phytogenic Extracts as Antioxidants and Their Potential Mechanisms in Ruminants

“…In addition, procyanidins are known to mitigate inflammation by directly regulating cellular signaling pathways, thereby exerting strong anti-inflammatory activities [ 111 ]. Zhang et al [ 112 ] examined the antioxidant effects of polysaccharide-rich noni ( Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit extract in goats, and they found that dietary supplementation with 0.4% of noni fruit extract improved the concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 and the activities of T-SOD, TrxR, GPx, and catalase in the serum, while it reduced the levels of ROS and MDA in the serum of cashmere goats. GPx1, a GPx family member, is known to reduce hydroperoxides to relevant alcohols using glutathione as a cofactor, and GPx4 can act as an antioxidant enzyme to reduce the hydroperoxides of phospholipids in lipoproteins and membranes [ 113 ].…”