Flos lonicerae and Baikal skullcap Extracts Improved Laying Performance of Aged Hens Partly by Modulating Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Function, Cecal Microbiota and Ovarian Metabolites

作者：Yu Xu, Jun Li, Ruomu Peng, Xiaodong Zhang, Wanfu Yue, Yufang Wang, Yufang Wang, Yahua Lan, Yongxia Wang, Yongxia Wang · 发表于：Animals · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/ani15192882 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds、Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications、Biological and pharmacological studies of plants

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Flos lonicerae and Baikal skullcap extracts (PE) on laying performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, follicular development, estrogen secretion, ovarian metabolomics, and cecal microbiota in aged laying hens. The total number of 70-week-old XinYang Black-Feathered laying hens was 240. These hens were randomly divided into two groups, with each group consisting of six replicates of 20 birds. Control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, whereas the PE group received the same basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg of PE. The duration of the experiment was 10 weeks. The findings indicated that the supplementation of PE improved laying performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune function. This was reflected by significant increases (p < 0.05) in laying rate, feed conversion ratio, antioxidant indicators (such as glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, and catalase), and immunoglobulin levels. Additionally, there were notable decreases (p < 0.05) in the malondialdehyde levels and pro-inflammatory markers. Moreover, the PE group exhibited a greater number of large yellow and white follicles, as well as higher serum estrogen levels, compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that PE supplementation altered the composition of the cecal microbiota by increasing Ruminococcus_torques_group, Butyricoccus and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group abundances and decreasing Bacteroides, Prevote...