Kaempferol, a secondary metabolite found in plants, is a naturally occurring flavonoid displaying significant potential in various biological activities. The chemical structure of kaempferol is distinguished by the presence of phenyl rings and four hydroxyl substituents, which make it an exceptional radical scavenger. Most recently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated the significance of kaempferol in the regulation of intestinal function and the mitigation of intestinal inflammation. The focus of the review will primarily be on its impact in terms of antioxidant properties, inflammation, maintenance of intestinal barrier function, and its potential in the treatment of colorectal cancer and obesity. Future research endeavors should additionally give priority to investigating the specific dosage and duration of kaempferol administration for different pathological conditions, while simultaneously conducting deeper investigations into the comprehensible mechanisms of action related to the regulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). This review intends to present novel evidence supporting the utilization of kaempferol in the regulation of gut health and the management of associated diseases.

This research evaluated the impacts of selenomethionine (Se-Met) on hepatic functions, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and apoptosis of piglets fed deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated diets. Twenty-four piglets were allocated four dietary treatments (n = 6) in a 28-day feeding trial. The four treatments included the control group, which received 0.3 mg/kg of Se (as Se-Met) without DON treatment, and the DON treatment groups received 0, 0.3, or 0.5 mg/kg Se as Se-Met. A dietary addition of 0.5 mg/kg Se improved liver pathology and reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels in piglets fed DON-contaminated diets. Furthermore, 0.5 mg/kg Se mitigated the oxidative stress and apoptosis of piglets fed DON-contaminated diets, as indicated by the decreased reactive oxygen species level, and the down-regulated mRNA levels of NRF-1, Bax, and CASP9 in the liver. Importantly, 0.5 mg/kg Se enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by increased hepatic total antioxidant capacity, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and total superoxide dismutase activities, as well as the up-regulated mRNA levels of Nrf2, Gclm, NQO1, SOD1, and GPX1 in the liver. Moreover, 0.5 mg/kg Se down-regulated the p-JNK protein level in the liver of piglets fed DON-contaminated diets. Collectively, Se-Met supplementation mitigated liver dysfunction, oxidative injury, and apoptosis through enhancing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting the JNK MAPK pathway in piglets fed DON-contaminated diets.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a prevalent contaminant in feed and food, posing a serious threat to the health of both humans and animals. The pig stands as an ideal subject for the study of DON due to its recognition as the most susceptible animal to DON. In this study, the IPEC-J2 cells were utilized as an in vitro model to explore the potential of SeMet in alleviating the intestinal toxicity and oxidative injury in intestinal epithelial cells when exposed to DON. Cells were treated either with or without 4.0 μM SeMet, in combination with or without a simultaneous treatment with 0.5 μg/mL DON, for a duration of 24 h. Then, cells or related samples were analyzed for cell proliferation, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, gene expressions, and protein expressions. The results showed that SeMet mitigated the cellular toxicity caused by DON, evidenced by elevated cell proliferation and the reduced LDH release of IPEC-J2 cells in the SeMet + DON group vs. the DON group. Moreover, the SeMet treatment markedly promoted antioxidant functions and decreased the oxidative injury in IPEC-J2 cell, which is indicated by the decreased ROS level and up-regulated mRNA levels of GPX1, TXNRD1, Nrf2, and GCLC in IPEC-J2 cells in the SeMet + DON group vs. the DON group. However, in both the absence and presence of exposure to DON, the SeMet treatment did not affect the protein expression of MAPK (JNK, Erk1/2, and P38) and phosphorylated MAPK (p-JNK, p-Erk1/2, and p-P38) in IPEC-J2 cells. Collectively, SeMet alleviated the DON-induced oxidative injury in porcine intestinal epithelial cells independent of the MAPK pathway regulation.

Oxidative stress and in-feed antibiotics restrictions have accelerated the development of natural, green, safe feed additives for swine and poultry diets. Lycopene has the greatest antioxidant potential among the carotenoids, due to its specific chemical structure. In the past decade, increasing attention has been paid to lycopene as a functional additive for swine and poultry feed. In this review, we systematically summarized the latest research progress on lycopene in swine and poultry nutrition during the past ten years (2013–2022). We primarily focused on the effects of lycopene on productivity, meat and egg quality, antioxidant function, immune function, lipid metabolism, and intestinal physiological functions. The output of this review highlights the crucial foundation of lycopene as a functional feed supplement for animal nutrition.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary selenium (Se) supplementation levels on the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash, and cecal microbiota diversity and composition in nursery piglets challenged with deoxynivalenol (DON). Twenty-four weaned piglets were allocated to four dietary treatment groups (n = 6). The four treatment diets were as follows: (1) post-weaning diet containing 0.3 mg/kg of Se; (2) post-weaning diet without supplemental Se + 3 mg/kg DON; (3) post-weaning diet containing 0.3 mg/kg Se + 3 mg/kg DON; and (4) post-weaning diet containing 0.5 mg/kg Se + 3 mg/kg DON. The native Se levels in the feedstuffs were 0.03–0.06 mg/kg. The Se source was supplemented in the form of selenomethionine. The trial lasted 28 days, with fecal samples collected during the final 4 days for ATTD analysis of crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash. Upon trial completion, cecal digesta was sampled for microbial diversity and composition analysis. The results showed that piglets in the 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group had a higher ATTD of crude fat than the 0 mg/kg Se + DON group and a greater ATTD of crude ash than the 0.3 mg/kg Se + DON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group displayed increased Shannon and Chao 1 indices compared to the 0 mg/kg Se + DON group (p < 0.05). Microbial composition analysis revealed higher Firmicutes abundance in the 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group than in the 0.3 mg/kg Se + DON group, along with reduced Euryarchaeota abundance relative to the 0 mg/kg Se + DON group (p < 0.05). The 0.5 mg/kg Se + DON group also had higher Selenomonadaceae abundance than the other groups (p < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis indicated a negative correlation between Selenomonadaceae abundance and the ATTD of ash, whereas [Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group abundance was positively correlated with the ATTD of ash (p < 0.10). Collectively, dietary Se supplementation at 0.5 mg/kg improved nutrient digestibility in DON-exposed nursery piglets, which was potentially associated with the modulation of cecal microbiota diversity and composition.