Impact of liposomal hesperetin in broilers: prospects for improving performance, antioxidant potential, immunity, and resistance against Listeria monocytogenes

Journal Article

2024

Published in: https://doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2024.2395357

Liposomal hesperetin; growth; immunostimulant; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; anti-virulence; Listeria monocytogenes

Liposomal encapsulated phytogenics, such as liposomal hesperetin, are considered novel
substitutes for antibiotics in the broiler industry owing to their improved nutritional and
therapeutic properties. Therefore, our key goal was to investigate liposomal hesperetin
impact on broiler growth performance, health, antioxidant status, tight junction proteins
(TJP), and resistance against Listeria monocytogenes. Four broiler groups were fed 0, 150,
250, or 400 mg/kg of liposomal hesperetin-supplemented diets and experimentally infected
with L. monocytogenes strain. Herein, liposomal hesperetin, especially at higher
concentrations, augmented broilers FCR with upregulation of genes encoding TJP (occludin,
JAM-2, MUC-2), and antioxidant attributes (GPX-1, SOD-1, CAT, HO-1, NQO1, COX2), which
reflect enhancing health and welfare of broilers. Muscle antioxidant biomarkers were
enhanced; meanwhile, muscle MDA, ROS, and H2O2 levels were reduced in response to
400 mg/kg of liposomal hesperetin. Liposomal hesperetin fortification reduced
L. monocytogenes loads and expression levels of its virulence-related genes ( flaA, hlyA, and
ami). Remarkably, histopathological alterations in intestinal and brain tissues of
L. monocytogenes-infected broilers were restored post-inclusion at higher levels of liposomal
hesperetin, which reflects increase of the birds’ resistance to L. monocytogenes infection.
Transcription levels of genes encoding cytokines/chemokines (MyD88, AVBD6, CCL20, IL-1β,
IL-18), and autophagy (Bcl-2, LC3, AMPK, AKT, CHOP, Bip, p62, XBP1) were ameliorated
following dietary liposomal hesperetin fortification, which suggests enhancement of the
birds’ immunity and health. Collectively, our research recommends liposomal hesperetin
application in broiler diets owing to its promoting impact on growth performance,
antioxidant status, immunity, health, and welfare besides its antibacterial, and antivirulence
characteristics to fight against L. monocytogenes.

• Publication Work Type: original article
• Publisher Name: Taylor & Francis
• Publishing City: Riyadh
• Volume Number: 36
• Issue Number: 8
• Magazine \ Newspaper: AVIAN PATHOLOGY
• Pages: 1-30