Abstract
The effects of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) needle extract (PNE) on gastrointestinal disorders and oxidative stress have been widely investigated using experimental models; however, the functions and mechanisms of these effects in chicken models remain unknown. We investigated the effects of Masson PNE supplementation on performance, egg quality, serum parameters, and the gut microbiome in laying hens. A total of 60 healthy 50-week-old Peking Pink laying hens with similar body conditions and egg production were randomly divided into the control (CON) (0 mg/kg PNE), PNE100 (100 mg/kg PNE), PNE200 (200 mg/kg PNE), and PNE400 (400 mg/kg PNE) groups, with fifteen replicates per treatment and one hen per replicate. Compared with the CON group, egg mass, feed conversion ratios, and yolk weight were significantly increased (p < 0.01) in the PNE100 group. Dietary supplementation of 100 mg/kg PNE increased the serum total protein, albumin, and glucose concentrations (p < 0.01) and decreased the alanine aminotransferase activity (p < 0.05) compared with those of the CONs. Hens in the PNE100 group had reduced serum malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.05) and increased catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities (p < 0.01) compared with those of the CON group. Serum proinflammatory cytokine concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α were lower (p < 0.01) and the IL-10 level was higher (p < 0.01) in the PNE100 group than in the CON group. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, and IgM concentrations were increased in the PNE100 group (p < 0.01). The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was increased, while the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were decreased in the PNE100 group. The relative abundances of Vibrio, Shewanella, and Lactobacillus were decreased, while the relative abundances of unclassified_o_Bacteroidales, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, unclassified_f_Rikenellaceae, and Butyricicoccaceae were increased in the PNE100 group compared with those of the CON group. PNE supplementation at 100 mg/kg improved the diversity and structure of the gut microbial composition, production performance, egg quality, and serum parameters of laying hens. The laying hens in this study had good production performance when supplemented with 100 mg/kg PNE.
Highlights
Poultry intestinal tracts possess complex microbial communities consisting of dominant bacteria that play key roles in host performance and gut health [1]
Dietary supplementation of 100 or 200 mg/kg pine needle extracts (PNEs) significantly improved the yolk weight. This may have been because the PNE promoted hepatic lipid metabolism by protecting hepatocytes from oxidative damage, enhancing the yolk weight [19], which is consistent with the results of a previous study [20]
The observed improvements in egg mass and feed efficiency after PNE supplementation might have been due to the presence of essential oils, terpenoids, and polyphenols, which are reported to improve nutrient digestion, absorption, and utilization in the digestive tract [7, 18]
Summary
Poultry intestinal tracts possess complex microbial communities consisting of dominant bacteria that play key roles in host performance and gut health [1]. Multiple factors, such as age, production system, disease, and diet, influence the gut microbiota of laying hens [2, 3]. One study found that adding pine needles improved quail performance and serum antioxidant systems. Pine needle powder increased growth performance in broilers by improving the small intestinal length and protein digestibility [13]. Pine needle extracts (PNEs) have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities against pathogens, stimulating growth of beneficial gut bacteria, Enterococcus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. No study has adequately demonstrated the benefits of PNEs on poultry performance, especially for laying hens
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