Reactive oxygen species (ROS) exert a vital role in sperm quality during semen preservation, where excessive ROS leads to oxidative damage and undermines sperm integrity. Curcumin, a botanical extract, is capable of neutralizing ROS and enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of curcumin on sperm viability, acrosome integrity, and antioxidant levels, as well as metabolomic and lipidomic profiles. The results demonstrated that curcumin at 25 µmol/L significantly enhanced sperm motility, plasma membrane, and acrosome integrity, elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes (T-AOC, CAT, SOD), and decreased ROS production (p < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis identified 93 distinct metabolites that showed significant differences between the control and curcumin-treated groups. KEGG pathways emphasized the participation of these metabolites in key metabolic processes such as the citric acid cycle, cholesterol metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism. Curcumin treatment brought about notable variations in lipid profiles, including increased levels of phosphatidylcholine, acylcarnitine, and triglyceride over the storage time, suggesting enhanced lipid anabolic activity. Overall, the supplementation of curcumin at 25 µmol/L effectively mitigates oxidative stress and prolongs the viability of semen storage at 16 °C by modulating specific metabolic and lipid profiles.

The primary factor leading to elevated rates of diarrhea and decreased performance in piglets is immunological stress. The regulation of immune stress through the intestinal flora is a crucial mechanism to consider. In total, 30 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to five groups: the basal diet group (Control), basal diet + lipopolysaccharides group (LPS), basal diet + 250 μg/kg 6-Formylindolo [3,2-b] carbazole + LPS group (FICZ), basal diet + 3mg/kg Cardamonin + LPS group (LCDN), and basal diet + 6mg/kg Cardamonin + LPS group (HCDN/CDN). The results showed that compared with those of the LPS group, the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin; claudin-1) in the FICZ group was significantly increased, and the mRNA levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). HCDN treatment had a better effect on LPS-induced intestinal barrier damage in this group than it did in the LCDN group. HCDN treatment leads to a higher villus height (VH), a higher ratio of villi height to crypt depth (V/C), higher tight junction proteins (ZO-1; occludin), and higher short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In addition, correlation analyses showed that Succinivibrio was positively correlated with several SCFAs and negatively correlated with prostaglandin-related derivatives in the FICZ group and CDN group (p < 0.05). In summary, Cardamonin alleviates intestinal mucosal barrier damage and inflammatory responses by regulating the intestinal microbiota and its metabolism.

This study investigated the effects of graded dietary curcumin supplementation on production performance, antioxidant capacity, immune status, intestinal barrier function, and cecal microbiota in late-laying hens. A total of 480 61-week-old Jingfen No. 1 laying hens were randomly allocated to four groups with six replicates of 20 birds each: a basal diet control (CG) and diets supplemented with 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg curcumin (CN1, CN2 and CN3) for 35 days. Curcumin supplementation significantly increased average egg weight (p < 0.05). Serum catalase concentration and immunoglobulin levels (IgM, IgA, and IgY) were elevated, whereas malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were reduced in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Similar improvements were observed in the jejunum, including increased glutathione peroxidase and catalase concentrations and reduced inflammatory cytokines. Birds in the CN3 group exhibited greater villus height and villus-to-crypt ratio, lower crypt depth, and upregulated mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1) (p < 0.05). Curcumin also modulated the cecal microbiota by enriching beneficial butyrate-producing bacteria (Lactobacillales, Faecalibacterium, Odoribacter, Roseburia, and Phascolarctobacterium) and reducing pathogenic Staphylococcus and Bilophila. Overall, dietary curcumin improved egg quality, antioxidant and immune functions, intestinal health, and microbial composition in late-laying hens.