Dietary supplementation with magnolia bark extract alters chicken intestinal metabolite levels

Authors: PARK, INKYUNG - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); LILLEHOJ, EP - University Of Maryland; Lillehoj, Hyun

Submitted to: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/4/2020
Publication Date: 3/24/2020
Citation: Park, I., Lillehoj, E., Lillehoj, H.S. 2020. Dietary supplementation with magnolia bark extract alters chicken intestinal metabolite levels. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00157.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00157

Interpretive Summary: There is limited information on how diets influence immunity and physiological responses of host. In this report, ARS scientists in Beltsville investigated role of gut metabolites using “omics” technology. Dietary Magnolia bark extract showed beneficial effects on performance, and host oxidative stress and immune response in our previous studies. To identify underlying mechanism, Here, a metabolomics approach was used to identify changes in intestinal metabolite levels in chickens fed a diet supplemented with magnolia bark extract. Body weight gains of chickens fed magnolia bark-supplemented diets were increased. The levels of 278 intestinal metabolites were altered (165 increased, 113 decreased) in chickens given the magnolia-supplemented diet. These results provide the foundation for future studies to identify naturally-produced biochemicals that might be used to improve poultry growth performance.

Technical Abstract: Magnolia bark extract administered as a dietary supplement to poultry confers a performance and health benefit, but the mechanisms are unknown. Here, a metabolomics approach was used to identify changes in intestinal metabolite levels in chickens fed an unsupplemented diet or a diet supplemented with magnolia bark extract. Body weight gains of chickens fed magnolia bark-supplemented diets were increased, compared with chickens fed an unsupplemented diet. Compared with unsupplemented controls, the levels of 278 intestinal metabolites were altered (165 increased, 113 decreased) in chickens given the magnolia-supplemented diet. These included changes in the levels of amino acids, fatty acids, peptides, and nucleosides, which provided a distinctive biochemical signature unique to the magnolia-supplemented group, compared with the unsupplemented group. These results provide the foundation for future studies to identify naturally-produced biochemicals that might be used to improve poultry growth performance.