The role of Sophora alopecuroides alkaloids in colon health of lambs fed high-concentrate diets for extended periods: impact on barrier function, antioxidation, and microflora

作者：Shufang Li, Boyang Li, Henan Lu, Jianxin Zhao, Aiwu Gao, Yawen An, Jinli Yang, Hairong Wang · 发表于：Frontiers in Veterinary Science · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3389/fvets.2025.1698892 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Bioactive natural compounds、Natural Compound Pharmacology Studies、Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology

Introduction Long-term feeding of a high-concentrate diet can induce subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) and hindgut acidosis in ruminants. However, at present, most studies focus on reducing rumen injury by adjusting the feed formula, adding buffers, probiotics, or enzyme preparations, and few studies pay attention to hindgut health. Sophora alopecuroides alkaloids have extensive anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of adding total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides (TASA) to a high-concentrate diet on colon barrier function, antioxidation, and the microbial flora of lambs. Methods 18 Dumont lambs (26.37 ± 2.29 kg) were divided into three diet groups: medium-concentrate diet (MC, concentrate ratio 50:50), high-concentrate diet (HC, concentrate ratio 70:30), and HC diet supplemented with 121 mg/kg TASA (HCT). At the end of the experimental period, colon contents and colon epithelium were collected. These samples were used to evaluate the colon barrier, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, microbial composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration. Results The results revealed that adding TASA to the HC diet increased claudin-1 protein expression ( p < 0.01), decreased the MDA concentration, and increased Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity in the colonic epithelium ( p < 0.05). The concentration of propionate and ...