Abstract
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.