Effects of Three Artemisia Extracts and Their Combinations on the Gut Barrier Function and Transcriptomic Regulation of the Jejunum in Laying Hens

抄録

Maintaining intestinal health during the late-laying period is important for sustaining feed efficiency and bird health. Plant-derived feed additives have been explored as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with the extracts of three Artemisia species, individually and in combination, on laying performance, antioxidant status, and intestinal barrier function in laying hens. A total of 720 62-week-old Jingfen No. 6 laying hens were assigned to eight dietary treatments, with six replicate cages per treatment and 15 hens per cage. The treatments included a basal diet and diets supplemented with single or combined aqueous extracts of Artemisia argyi, Artemisia ordosica, or Artemisia annua for eight weeks. Compared to the control group, hens receiving combined Artemisia extracts showed a reduced feed-to-egg ratio (P < 0.05). The combined treatments also improved jejunal morphology, as indicated by increased villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). In addition, the supplemented groups exhibited enhanced antioxidant capacity and modulated intestinal immune-related indices, as reflected by higher total superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase, Total antioxidant capacity, and Secretory immunoglobulin A levels (P < 0.05). The combined extract supplementation reduced serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels and Diamine oxidase activity while increasing Claudin-1 expression compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Jejunal transcriptomic analysis suggested that lipid metabolism, retinol metabolism, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-related pathways might be involved in the response to combined Artemisia supplementation. Overall, the combination of Artemisia argyi, Artemisia ordosica, and Artemisia annua extracts may improve antioxidant status and intestinal barrier function, thereby contributing to improved feed utilization under the present experimental conditions.