Effects of Total Flavonoids of Artemisia ordosica on Growth Performance, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidant Status of Lipopolysaccharide-Challenged Broilers

Artemisia ordosica has been applied as a traditional Chinese/Mongolian medicine for the treatment of certain inflammatory ailments. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Artemisia ordosica total flavonoids (ATF) supplemented in diets on growth performance, oxidative stress, and antioxidant status in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acre broilers were randomly allotted into 5 groups with 6 replicates (n = 8), which were the basal diet group (CON), LPS-challenged and basal diet group (LPS), and the LPS-challenged and basal diet added with low (500 mg/kg), middle (750 mg/kg), and high (1000 mg/kg) doses of ATF groups (ATF-L, ATF-M, and ATF-H), respectively. On day 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28, broilers were injected intra-abdominally either with LPS or an equivalent amount of saline. Results showed that dietary ATF alleviated the LPS-induced decrease in BW, ADG, and ADFI in broilers. Dietary ATF supplementation reversed the increased serum oxidative damage indexes (reactive oxygen species, protein carbonyl, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine) and the decreased serum antioxidant indexes [total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] in LPS-challenged broilers. Moreover, ATF alleviated the decreased antioxidase activity and the over-production of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver and spleen induced by LPS. This study also showed that ATF alleviated the increased mRNA expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and the decreased mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), CAT, SOD, and GPx in the liver and spleen of broilers challenged with LPS. In conclusion, ATF has a strong capacity to enhance antioxidant enzyme activity and relieve oxidative stress and can be used as a potential novel feed additive in poultry diets to improve growth performance and antioxidant capacity.