Effects of genistein and hesperidin on biomarkers of heat stress in broilers under persistent summer stress

Poult Sci. 2013 Sep;92(9):2411-8. doi: 10.3382/ps.2012-02960.

Abstract

This study investigated the supplemental effects of the flavonoids genistein and hesperidin for biomarkers of heat stress in broilers reared under persistent summer stress. A total of 360 one-day-old, mixed-sex broiler chickens were divided into 6 treatment groups: control or supplemented with 5 mg of genistein•kg of feed(-1), 20 mg of hesperidin•kg of feed(-1), or a mixture of genistein and hesperidin (1:4) at a dosage of 5 mg•kg(-1), 10 mg•kg(-1), and 20 mg•kg(-1) of feed. Broilers were slaughtered at 42 d and samples were analyzed for hematological profile, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and heat shock protein 70 mRNA levels. Results showed that dietary genistein and hesperidin improved (P < 0.05) the weekly performance of broilers particularly during the finisher period. The circulating heterophils and heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratios were found to decrease (P < 0.01) in the treated groups. Moreover, biomarkers of heat stress including the level of creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and heat shock protein 70 mRNA of breast muscle was also changed (P < 0.01) positively by the dietary compounds with pronounced effects of combined treatments. These findings suggested that genistein and hesperidin could be a prime strategy to ameliorate summer stress effects in broilers; and a combination of both compounds may lead to mutual synergistic effects. It could be suggested that dietary use of both genistein and hesperidin as a feed supplement may offer a potential nutritional strategy in tropical and subtropical regions to overcome the deleterious effects of persistent summer stress in broiler production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Chickens / physiology*
  • Creatine Kinase / metabolism
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Supplements / analysis
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Genistein / administration & dosage
  • Genistein / metabolism*
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Heat-Shock Response / drug effects*
  • Hesperidin / administration & dosage
  • Hesperidin / metabolism*
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Male
  • Pectoralis Muscles / drug effects
  • Pectoralis Muscles / enzymology
  • Pectoralis Muscles / metabolism*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biomarkers
  • Drug Combinations
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Genistein
  • Hesperidin
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • Creatine Kinase