抄録
Functional effects of Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantain) on animal health and quality were investigated using pigs and chickens. Feeding fresh plantain to pigs decreased their body weight and thickness of back fat, but on the other hand increased the grade of dressed carcass. Addition of 5% to 10% of dried Plantain to mixed feed for chickens also markedly decreased their body weight gain and fat accumulation in the abdominal cavity. However, content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast meat was significantly increased. Furthermore, the levels of essential fatty acids were elevated while the n-6/n-3 lipid ratio was significantly decreased. The plantain admixture to feed improved the shelf life of the chicken meat due to suppression of lipid peroxidation. Taste traits other than bitterness, such as scent, ‘umami’, sweetness, and richness of soup were more highly evaluated with chickens fed on plantain.
Since the plant has been used to produce anti-diabetic tea in Eastern Anatolia, a region of Turkey, we also investigated anti-metabolic syndrome effects of plantain when fed to male C57BL/6J mice. Supplementation in a high-fat diet did not affect food intake but significantly reduced serum free fatty acid and glucose levels. These findings and real time PCR analysis on gene expression suggested that Plantain exerts anti-metabolic syndrome effects. In addition, anti-alzheimer's effect of Plantain is suggested.
Plantain contains acteoside, catalpol, aucubin geniposidic acid and asperuloside as bioactive components which might be involved in its functional effects.
