Dietary Supplementation with Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) Modulates the Microbiota of Digestive Tract and Caecal Metabolites in Rabbits

Animals

Laura Menchetti¹  Elisa Cotozzolo²  Marta Castrica³  Daniele Vigo⁴  Gabriele Brecchia⁴  Stella Agradi⁴  Federica Riva⁴  Giulio Curone⁴  Olimpia Barbato⁵  Alda Quattrone⁵  Maria Laura Marongiu⁶  Albana Munga⁷  Majlind Sulce⁷  Filippo Biscarini⁸  Paola Cremonesi⁸  Bianca Castiglioni⁸ 

[1] Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale G. Fanin 44, 40137 Bologna, Italy;Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy;Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety “Carlo Cantoni”, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy;Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy;Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy;Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy;Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Tirana, Kodër-Kamëz, 1029 Tirana, Albania;Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology (IBBA), National Research Council (CNR), U.O.S. di Lodi, Via Einstein, 26900 Lodi, Italy;

关键词: Goji fruit;    intestinal bacterial community;    caecum;    lactic acid;    ammonium;    rabbit;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani12010121

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Goji berries show health benefits, although the possible mechanisms of action, including compositional changes in the gut microbiome, are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Goji berry supplementation on microbiota composition and metabolites in the digestive tracts of rabbits. Twenty-eight New Zealand White rabbits were fed with a commercial feed (control group, C; n = 14) or the same diet supplemented with 3% of Goji berries (Goji group, G; n = 14), from weaning (35 days old) until slaughter (90 days old). At slaughter, samples from the content of the gastrointestinal tracts were collected and analyzed by Next Generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing to evaluate the microbial composition. Ammonia and lactic acid were also quantified in caecum. Results showed differences in microbiota composition between the groups for two phyla (Cyanobacteria and Euryarchaeota), two classes (Methanobacteria and Bacilli), five orders, fourteen families, and forty-five genera. Ruminococcaceae (p < 0.05) and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.01) were more abundant in G than in C group. Lactobacillaceae also showed differences between the two groups, with Lactobacillus as the predominant genus (p = 0.002). Finally, Goji berry supplementation stimulated lactic acid fermentation (p < 0.05). Thus, Goji berry supplementation could modulate gastrointestinal microbiota composition and caecal fermentation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown