Impacts of Artemisia argyi alcohol extract supplementation on lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress in broilers and the underlying mechanism

This study aimed to investigate the impact of Artemisia argyi alcohol extract (AAAE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress in broilers, providing a theoretical basis for AAAE as a feed additive. The experiment utilized a 2 × 2 factorial randomized complete block design with 2 levels of AAAE supplementation (0 and 750 mg/kg of base diet) and 2 levels of LPS challenge (0 and 750 μg/kg body weight [BW]). The experimental period spanned 42 d, divided into 3 phases: phase 1 (d 1–14; adaptation period), phase 2 (d 15–28; challenged with 750 mg /kg BW LPS or saline on d 15, 17, 19, and 21, followed by a 7-d recovery period), and phase 3 (d 29–42; challenged with 750 μg/kg BW LPS or saline on d 29, 31, 33, and 35, with another 7-d recovery period). The addition of AAAE in feed significantly alleviated the reduction in ADG, the apparent metabolic rate of nutrients (DM, CP, Ca) induced by LPS in broiler chickens, improving serum and small intestine antioxidant enzyme activities. Additionally, the supplementation of AAAE significantly upregulated the expression levels of liver Nrf2, CAT mRNA, and duodenum Nrf2 mRNA. In conclusion, supplementation of AAAE in the diet alleviated the oxidative damage in liver and duodenum of broilers induced by LPS through the activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, leading to increased secretion of downstream antioxidant enzymes.