The effects of magnolol supplementation on growth performance, meat quality, oxidative capacity, and intestinal microbiota in broilers

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of magnolol (MAG) on growth performance, meat quality, oxidative capacity, and intestinal microbiota in the yellow-feather broilers. A total of 360 one-day-old male yellow-feather broiler chicks were allocated into 5 groups of 6 replicates and 12 chickens per replicate, were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control group, CON), 100, 200, 300, or 400 mg/kg MAG for 51 d. The results showed that dietary supplementation with 200 and 300 mg/kg MAG increased the average daily gain (ADG) but decreased feed to gain ratio (F/G) during the overall periods (P < 0.05). Dietary MAG increased significantly the redness value (a*) of the breast muscle (P < 0.05), and decreased the water loss rate and shear force of the breast meat (P < 0.05). MAG supplement reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased the glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels in breast muscle and jejunum. PCR analysis showed that MAG increased the levels of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NAD(P)H/quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione-S transferase (GST), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit ( GCLC), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and SOD expressions (P < 0.05). Analysis of differential enrichment of gut microbiota found that Faecalibacterium in the cecum of MAG supplemented broilers increased, and Coprobacillus has decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, MAG improved growth performance, meat quality of the broilers and antioxidant capacity, and modulated gut microbiota homeostasis.