Goji Berries Supplementation in the Diet of Rabbits and Other Livestock Animals: A Mini-Review of the Current Knowledge.

Stella Agradi,Egon Andoni,Marta Castrica,Laura Menchetti,Susanna Draghi,Daniele Vigo,Federica Riva,Elisa Cotozzolo,Maria Laura Marongiu,Gabriele Brecchia,Maria Rachele Ceccarini,Olimpia Barbato,Majlind Sulce,Giulio Curone,Alda Quattrone

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.823589

Abstract

In the last decades, several nutraceutical substances have received great attention for their potential role in the prevention and treatment of different diseases as well as for their beneficial effects in promoting the health of humans and animals. Goji berries (GBs) are the fruit of Lycium barbarum and other species of Lycium, used in traditional Chinese medicine, and they have recently become very popular in the Occidental world because of their properties, such as anti-aging, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, cytoprotective, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities. These effects are essentially evaluated in clinical trials in humans; in experimental animal models, such as mice and rats; and in cell lines in in vitro studies. Only recently has scientific research evaluated the effects of GBs diet supplementation in livestock animals, including rabbits. Although studies in the zootechnical field are still limited and the investigation of the GB mechanisms of action is in an early stage, the results are encouraging. This review includes a survey of the experimental trials that evaluated the effects of the GBs supplementation on reproductive and productive performances, immune system, metabolic homeostasis, and meat quality principally in the rabbit with also some references to other livestock animal species. Evidence supports the idea that GB supplementation could be used in rabbit breeding, although future studies should be conducted to establish the optimal dose to be administered and to assess the sustainability of the use of GBs in the diet of the rabbit.

Highlights

There is a growing interest worldwide in the development of nutraceutical products that could ensure potential health benefits and greater life quality [1]
Most of the evidence on the beneficial effects of Goji berries (GBs) consumption derives from clinical trials in humans, experimental studies in laboratory animals, and in vitro trials [22, 23]
The present review summarizes the most relevant literature on the effects and mechanism of action of GB supplementation in the diet of livestock animals, especially in rabbits

Summary

Introduction

There is a growing interest worldwide in the development of nutraceutical products that could ensure potential health benefits and greater life quality [1]. Goji berries (GBs) are the fruit of Lycium barbarum (Figure 1A) and other species of Lycium which are becoming more and more famous in the Western countries because of their properties, in particular the anti-aging ones [9]. This interest comes from the absence or the negligible presence of side effects in comparison with traditional pharmacological therapies [10]. Data on GBs’ effects on livestock animals, including rabbits, are not very numerous [24, 25]

Methods

Findings

Conclusion