Special Issue "Antioxidants in Animal Production, Reproduction, Health and Welfare"
Special Issue Editors
Interests: poultry sciences; rabbits sciences; Nutrition; husbandry; Production; physiology
Interests: feed additives on performance and nutrient utilization in poultry identification of antibiotics alternatives in poultry; mineral nutrition & amp; bone growth in poultry; nutrient absorption and transporters (amino acids & minerals) in intestine
Interests: livestock, reproduction, assisted reproductive techniques; nanotechnology; ultrasound; endocrinology; phytochemicals; antioxidants; growth
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Redox homeostasis is a pivotal biological process that guarantees the balance between two molecules—antioxidants and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Normally, a moderate production of ROS is required for the maintenance of many biological processes in the cell; however, the excessive accumulation of ROS, which results in oxidative stress, may evoke structural and functional impairments by attacking cells’ biomolecules (proteins, lipids, and genetic material) and cell membranes, leading to cell dysfunction or cell death based on the magnitude of these reactions. As a defense mechanism, different cells are provided with many ROS-scavenging enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules to eliminate ROS and maintain adequate redox homeostasis. The exposure of animals to environmental stresses (restraint, bad housing conditions, irradiation, pollution, diseases, and heat stress) and endogenous stresses (metabolic and physiological disorders) can seriously disrupt the redox homeostasis, leading to impairments in animals’ health and overall performance. Under these circumstances, the self-antioxidant defense system maybe not enough to neutralize ROS effects. In this context, the utilization of an exogenous source of antioxidants, mainly dietary sources, may present an effective and cost-effective solution. There are a plethora of substances, either naturally occurring or synthesized (organic acids, minerals, vitamins, hormones, and specific feed additives originating from plants such as essential oils and polyphenols), known for their antioxidant activity, that can be used to maintain adequate redox status in animals in order to preserve their well-being and/or productivity. This area of research still needs more investigations in order to clearly elucidate the effective antioxidant substances that could be used in practical applications, with an emphasis on their biological mechanisms during different physiological conditions and health statuses. We intend to bring together current research concerning the role of antioxidant substances either from natural sources or those synthesized for improving animal production, reproduction, health, and welfare.
Prof. Dr. Youssef A. Attia
Dr. Woo Kyun Kim
Prof. Dr. Nesrein Hashem
Prof. Dr. Maria de Olivera
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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Keywords
- antioxidants
- animal nutrition
- production
- reproduction
- health
- welfare
Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: Impact of different methionine sources on the performance and oxidation status of broiler chickens
Authors: ahmed A. AL Sagan; ahmed alsagan
Affiliation: King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology ,Saudi Arabia
Abstract: A feeding trial was conducted to examine the impact of different methionine sources on broilers performance and oxidation status. A total of 510 1-day-old Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to six equal groups, replicated five times. The experimental diets consisted of corn and soybean as basal diets, formulated in accordance to breed producers recommendations for the starter, grower, and finisher stages. The experimental groups (G1 to G6) were fed in accordance to the different experimental treatments. Growth performance parameters and mortality rates were recorded. Serum samples were collected to determine the total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, ALT, AST, urea, and creatinine. Samples from homogenated hepatic tissue (liver) were used for oxidation stress biomarkers determination. Mitochondrial activity indicators were also detected. Dressing%, breast muscle yield (BMY), thigh yield, drumstick, wing, neck, and abdominal fat yield percentages as well as liver, heart, gizzard, and proventriculus indices, were calculated. The gut micromorphological profile was also examined. The results showed significant (P < 0.05) positive effects of DL-Met, MHA-Ca or in combination with BHT on most of growth performance parameters, although broilers responded lesser to MHA-FA than to DL-Met. Only the serum ALT levels in groups G3 and G4 were positively affected. The significantly high levels of GSH, CAT, GP, and GR and the lowest MDA level were reported in broilers of G2 and G1). The results indicated the ability of both DL-Met and MHA-Ca to improve the broilers oxidation condition as well as the growth performance traits. Groups that received DL-Met or MHA-Ca with or without BHT exhibited an increase in villus height and villus-to-crypt ratios. Therefore, the use of both D-Met and MHA-Ca with or without BHT had positive impact on the studied traits.
Title: Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Cleome Droserifolia (Forssk.) Del. and Its Biological Effects on Redox Status, Immunity, and Gut Microflora
Authors: Nesrein. M. Hashem1, M.G. Shehata2
Affiliation: 1Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, 21545Alexandria, Egypt.
2Department of Food Technology, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Application (STR-City), New Borg El Arab, 21545Alexandria, Egypt.
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activities of Cleome droserifolia (Forssk.) Del. (Cd) methanolic extract, considering the biological activity of owing phytogenic compounds. For this purpose, the Cd phenolic compounds were detected and in vitro evaluation for the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the Cd extract were performed. For biological evaluation, thirty v-line rabbits were randomly distributed into three groups with treatments including: basal diet without Cd supplement (C) or supplemented with 1.25 (Cdl group), or 2.5 (Cdh group) mg Cd/kg DM diet. The Cd extract showed a linear scavenging activity for DPPH and ABTS with a maximal activity at concentration of 1000 μg/ml. A total of 16 phenolic compounds were identified by RP-HPLC in the Cd methanolic extract of which benzoic acid, rutin, ellagic acid, naringenin, and o-coumaric acid were the major compounds. The methanolic extract of Cd showed inhibitory actions against microbial pathogen species. The in vivo study showed that both levels of Cd significantly improved redox status of blood plasma and lysosome activity. Treatment with Cdh significantly decreased levels of blood plasma interleukin-β1 compared with control. Both levels of Cd significantly increased counts of intestinal and cecal yeast and Lactobacillus species, and decreased Salmonella and Coliform species compared with control. The aerial parts of Cd shrub have strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activities, which can improve the overall health status and seem to be related to the impressive range of biologically active phenolic compounds, mainly benzoic and rutin
Title: Correlations Between Antioxidant and Biochemical Parameters of Blood Serum of Duroc Breed Pigs
Authors: Sergei Yu. Zaǐtsev; Anna A. Belous; Oksana A. Voronina; Roman A. Rykov; Nadezhda V. Bogolyubova
Affiliation: Federal Scientific Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academician L.K. Ernst
Abstract: Correlations between the major biochemical (BC) and antioxidant (TAWSA) parameters of pigs’ blood is necessary to study in order to assess the physiological-biochemical status (PhBS), animal health, production, etc. The blood samples were obtained from Duroc breed boars (n=77), divided onto groups 1 (n=25), 2 (n=40) and 3 (n=12) that fattened for 65, 72 and 100 days, respectively. Significant positive and negative correlations found between TAWSA and BC parameters of pig blood for group 3: very high - in the case of total protein (TP) (-0.75), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (-0.79); high - in the case of cholesterol (-0.72), glucose (0.66), alkaline phosphatase (0.66), calcium ions (-0.60), globulins (0.53), as well as moderate - in the case of albumins (-0.36), triglycerides (-0.35), magnesium (-0.32) and phosphorus (-0.27). The same found for group 2: high - in the case of TP (0.51); moderate - in the case of globulins (0.48), cholesterol (0.33), phosphates (0.25). The only moderate found for group 1: magnesium (-0.48), glucose (0.36), calcium (-0.25). This tendency indicated the stabilization of pig PhBS during their growth and fattening that can be useful for understanding the PhBS and antioxidant features of pigs, the factors of their nutrition, maintenance, etc.