The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids

In this present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of adding tea polyphenols to feed on the immunity, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota of weaned goat kids. Thirty weaned kids (Leizhou goats, average initial weight of 9.32 ± 1.72 kg, 2 months old) were randomly divided into five group...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yimei Xiao, Longcheng Chen, Yuewen Xu, Xiaolin He, Shangquan Gan, Fuquan Yin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/467
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849723194892615680
author Yimei Xiao
Longcheng Chen
Yuewen Xu
Xiaolin He
Shangquan Gan
Fuquan Yin
author_facet Yimei Xiao
Longcheng Chen
Yuewen Xu
Xiaolin He
Shangquan Gan
Fuquan Yin
author_sort Yimei Xiao
collection DOAJ
description In this present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of adding tea polyphenols to feed on the immunity, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota of weaned goat kids. Thirty weaned kids (Leizhou goats, average initial weight of 9.32 ± 1.72 kg, 2 months old) were randomly divided into five groups with six kids in each group, with half being male and half being female. The control (CON) group was fed the basal diet, and the four other groups were supplemented with 2, 4, or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols or 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline in the basal diet (denoted as the T1, T2, T3, and CTC groups, respectively). The results showed that compared to the CON and CTC groups, adding 4 or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols could increase the expression levels of serum antioxidant enzymes and intestinal antioxidant genes in the kids. It also increased the expression of <i>Nrf2</i> and <i>IL-10</i> in the intestine, while reducing the content and gene expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α). Dietary supplementation with 4 or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols reduced the expression levels of <i>TLR4</i>, <i>MyD88</i>, and <i>NFκB</i> in intestinal tissue, activated intestinal protective mechanisms, and enhanced the immune defense of the intestinal epithelium. Compared to the CTC group, feeding tea polyphenols significantly increased the Simpson indices. However, adding 4 g/kg tea polyphenols significantly increased the relative abundance of <i>Verrucomicrobiota</i>, <i>Candidatus Soleaferrea</i>, the <i>Christensenellaceae R-7 group</i>, and <i>Prevotella</i>, as well as the acetic acid content in the cecum of the kids (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, the results indicate that dietary supplementation with 4 g/kg of tea polyphenols can effectively maintain the homeostasis of the gut microbiota and enhance the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities of weaned kids.
format Article
id doaj-art-7b14fd08324549efb87c1c1cea21c67d
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-2615
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Animals
spelling doaj-art-7b14fd08324549efb87c1c1cea21c67d2025-08-20T03:11:06ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115446710.3390/ani15040467The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat KidsYimei Xiao0Longcheng Chen1Yuewen Xu2Xiaolin He3Shangquan Gan4Fuquan Yin5College of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524091, ChinaCollege of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524091, ChinaCollege of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524091, ChinaCollege of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524091, ChinaCollege of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524091, ChinaCollege of Coastal Agriculture Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524091, ChinaIn this present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of adding tea polyphenols to feed on the immunity, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota of weaned goat kids. Thirty weaned kids (Leizhou goats, average initial weight of 9.32 ± 1.72 kg, 2 months old) were randomly divided into five groups with six kids in each group, with half being male and half being female. The control (CON) group was fed the basal diet, and the four other groups were supplemented with 2, 4, or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols or 50 mg/kg chlortetracycline in the basal diet (denoted as the T1, T2, T3, and CTC groups, respectively). The results showed that compared to the CON and CTC groups, adding 4 or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols could increase the expression levels of serum antioxidant enzymes and intestinal antioxidant genes in the kids. It also increased the expression of <i>Nrf2</i> and <i>IL-10</i> in the intestine, while reducing the content and gene expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α). Dietary supplementation with 4 or 6 g/kg tea polyphenols reduced the expression levels of <i>TLR4</i>, <i>MyD88</i>, and <i>NFκB</i> in intestinal tissue, activated intestinal protective mechanisms, and enhanced the immune defense of the intestinal epithelium. Compared to the CTC group, feeding tea polyphenols significantly increased the Simpson indices. However, adding 4 g/kg tea polyphenols significantly increased the relative abundance of <i>Verrucomicrobiota</i>, <i>Candidatus Soleaferrea</i>, the <i>Christensenellaceae R-7 group</i>, and <i>Prevotella</i>, as well as the acetic acid content in the cecum of the kids (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, the results indicate that dietary supplementation with 4 g/kg of tea polyphenols can effectively maintain the homeostasis of the gut microbiota and enhance the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities of weaned kids.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/467tea polyphenolsweaned goat kidsimmune functionantioxidant functioncecal short-chain fatty acidscecal microbes
spellingShingle Yimei Xiao
Longcheng Chen
Yuewen Xu
Xiaolin He
Shangquan Gan
Fuquan Yin
The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids
Animals
tea polyphenols
weaned goat kids
immune function
antioxidant function
cecal short-chain fatty acids
cecal microbes
title The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids
title_full The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids
title_fullStr The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids
title_short The Effects of Tea Polyphenols in Feed on the Immunity, Antioxidant Capacity, and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Goat Kids
title_sort effects of tea polyphenols in feed on the immunity antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota of weaned goat kids
topic tea polyphenols
weaned goat kids
immune function
antioxidant function
cecal short-chain fatty acids
cecal microbes
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/467
work_keys_str_mv AT yimeixiao theeffectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT longchengchen theeffectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT yuewenxu theeffectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT xiaolinhe theeffectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT shangquangan theeffectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT fuquanyin theeffectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT yimeixiao effectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT longchengchen effectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT yuewenxu effectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT xiaolinhe effectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT shangquangan effectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids
AT fuquanyin effectsofteapolyphenolsinfeedontheimmunityantioxidantcapacityandgutmicrobiotaofweanedgoatkids