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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2018, Vol. 17 Issue (03): 657-663    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61801-X
Animal Science · Veterinary Medicine Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Effects of Bupleurum extract on blood metabolism, antioxidant status and immune function in heat-stressed dairy cows
CHENG Jian-bo1*, FAN Cai-yun1*, SUN Xian-zhi1, WANG Jia-qi2, 3, ZHENG Nan2, 3, ZHANG Xing-kai4, QIN Jun-jie5, WANG Xiu-min  
1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, P.R.China
2 Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
3 State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
4 Shanghai Bright Holstan Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200436, P.R.China
5 Beijing Centre Biology Co., Ltd., Beijing 102206, P.R.China
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Abstract  This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of Bupleurum extract (BE) on blood metabolites, antioxidant status, and immune function in dairy cows under heat stress.  Forty lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments.  The treatments consisted of 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g of BE kg–1 dry matter.  Supplementation with BE decreased (P<0.05) blood urea nitrogen (BUN) contents and increased blood total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) levels compared with control cows, but it had no effects (P>0.05) on blood glucose (GLU), nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), total triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).  Compared with control cows, cows fed BE had higher (P<0.05) superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity.  However, supplementation with BE had no effect (P>0.05) on total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) or malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.  The immunoglobulin (Ig) A and G contents increased (P<0.05) in cows fed 0.25 or 0.5 g of BE kg–1.  Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 levels were higher (P<0.05) in cows fed 0.5 and 1.0 g of BE kg–1, and IL-6 was significantly elevated (P<0.05) in cows fed 0.5 g of BE kg–1.  There were no treatment effects (P>0.05) on the CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte ratios, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level among the groups.  These findings suggest that BE supplementation may improve protein metabolism, in addition to enhancing antioxidant activity and immune function in heat-stressed dairy cows.  
Keywords:  Bupleurum extract        blood metabolites        heat stress        dairy cows  
Received: 25 May 2017   Accepted:
Fund: 

This study was supported financially by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0500503), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program, China (ASTIP-IAS12) and the Anhui International Science and Technology Cooperation plan program, China (1503062019).

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence ZHENG Nan, Tel: +86-10-62816069, Fax: +86-10-62897587, E-mail: zhengnan_1980@126.com   
About author:  CHENG Jian-bo, E-mail: chengjianbofcy@163.com; * These authors contributed equally to this study.

Cite this article: 

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