Volume 17, Issue 1 (3-2026)
Res Anim Prod 2026, 17(1): 175-185 |
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Salehifar E, Khosravi A, Bahari Kashani R. (2026). The Effect of Purslane Seed (Portulaca oleracea) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast on the Performance, Intestinal Morphology, and Gastrointestinal pH in Japanese Quails. Res Anim Prod. 17(1), 175-185. doi:10.61882/rap.2026.1563
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1563-en.html
URL: http://rap.sanru.ac.ir/article-1-1563-en.html
1- Department of Agriculture Science, Ma. C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract: (354 Views)
Extended Abstract
Background: Increasing concerns about antimicrobial resistance and the consequences of long-term antibiotic use in the poultry industry have attracted attention toward safe and natural alternatives. Two widely used approaches in this area are phytogenic feed additives rich in bioactive compounds and probiotics, which can improve intestinal microbial balance, enhance antioxidant status, and improve digestive efficiency, thereby promoting health and production performance. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) exhibits remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties due to its content of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. On the other hand, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a well-known probiotic, improves gut microflora balance, enhances digestion and nutrient absorption, and stimulates mucosal immunity. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is considered a suitable experimental model for evaluating the nutritional effects of these compounds due to its rapid growth and favorable feed conversion ratio. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of purslane seed powder and S. cerevisiae yeast on the productive performance, carcass traits, gastrointestinal pH, intestinal microflora, antioxidant enzyme activity, serum biochemical indices, and intestinal morphology in Japanese quails.
Methods: The trial was conducted as a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates per treatment, each containing 10 same‑age male and female birds. The treatments were (1) a basal diet (control), (2) a basal diet + 1% purslane seed powder, (3) a basal diet + 2% purslane seed powder, and (4) a basal diet + 0.5% S. cerevisiae yeast. Diets were formulated to be iso‑caloric and iso‑nitrogenous according to NRC (1994) recommendations. The experimental period lasted 42 days. The recorded productive indices were final body weight, daily weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Carcass yield and percentages of liver, heart, abdominal fat, and gizzard were measured after the slaughter of representative birds. Intestinal contents were sampled to enumerate Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus spp., and gut pH was determined with a digital pH meter. Oxidative status and serum biochemistry, viz. malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high‑ and low‑density lipoproteins (HDL, LDL), and liver enzymes AST and ALT, were assessed using commercial kits. For morphometric analysis, hematoxylin–eosin‑stained sections of the duodenum and ileum were prepared to measure villus height, crypt depth, and the villus‑to‑crypt ratio. Data were analyzed in SAS software, and means were separated by Duncan’s test at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Supplementation of 2% purslane seed powder significantly reduced E. coli counts to approximately 1,600 and markedly increased Lactobacillus counts to around 23,500 compared to the control. The S. cerevisiae yeast likewise decreased E. coli and elevated Lactobacillus relative to the control, although the magnitude of this change was lower than that observed with 2% purslane. Regarding carcass characteristics, neither purslane nor the yeast affected carcass percentage or most individual organs; however, liver percentage declined significantly in the 2% purslane group, suggesting a potential alleviation of lipid load and improved metabolic status. Intestinal pH decreased in the additive groups, with the greatest drop seen in birds receiving the yeast, an environment conducive to acid‑tolerant beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli. Systemically, the 2% purslane treatment significantly lowered MDA and increased the activities of SOD and GPx, indicating strengthened antioxidant defenses and reduced lipid peroxidation. The same treatment improved the lipid profile: TC, TG, and LDL were reduced compared to an increase in HDL. Histological evaluation showed that dietary purslane at 1% and 2% significantly enhanced villus height and the villus‑to‑crypt ratio and reduced crypt depth in both the duodenum and ileum. These changes are consistent with the enlarged absorptive surface area and improved digestive efficiency. The yeast also exerted favorable effects on these morphometric variables, though generally to a lesser extent than 2% purslane. Collectively, both additives modulated the gut milieu toward beneficial populations and structural optimization, but purslane at 2% achieved the most comprehensive improvements across microbial, morphological, and biochemical endpoints. The suite of bioactive constituents present in purslane seed—omega‑3 fatty acids together with flavonoids and other polyphenols—likely underlies the observed functional benefits. Omega‑3s can temper inflammatory pathways and support membrane integrity, while phenolic antioxidants scavenge reactive oxygen species, thereby lowering oxidative stress and protecting the intestinal epithelium. In parallel, a reduction in luminal pH and the associated increase in short‑chain organic acids favor the proliferation of commensal lactobacilli and suppress opportunistic pathogens, such as E. coli, promoting colonization resistance and a more stable microbiota. S. cerevisiae may complement these actions by providing growth factors and metabolites that stimulate beneficial bacteria, improving nutrient assimilation, and indirectly enhancing digestive enzyme activities. Nonetheless, in the present experiment, the breadth and intensity of responses favored the 2% purslane inclusion over the yeast alone, suggesting that the phytochemical matrix of purslane seeds confers multi‑targeted effects that extend beyond microbiota modulation.
Conclusion: Overall, adding purslane seed powder—particularly at 2% of the diet—improved the intestinal microbial balance by reducing E. coli and enriching Lactobacillus, strengthened antioxidant capacity (higher SOD and GPx, lower MDA), mitigated lipid peroxidation, refined the serum lipid profile (lower TC, TG, and LDL and higher HDL), and optimized intestinal architecture by increasing villus height and the villus‑to‑crypt ratio and decreasing crypt depth. These convergent changes translated into a more favorable gut environment and likely more efficient digestion and absorption, thereby supporting general health in Japanese quails. The S. cerevisiae yeast also produced beneficial shifts in gut flora and reduced pH, but its impacts on certain morphometric and biochemical metrics were less pronounced than those achieved with 2% purslane. Purslane seed powder, therefore, emerges as a practical phytogenic feed additive to enhance health and productivity in quails while aligning with strategies to curtail antibiotic dependence in poultry systems. Future work should examine higher inclusion levels and combined use with yeasts, as well as longer‑term monitoring of performance and immune markers, to define dose–response relationships and the durability of benefits.
Background: Increasing concerns about antimicrobial resistance and the consequences of long-term antibiotic use in the poultry industry have attracted attention toward safe and natural alternatives. Two widely used approaches in this area are phytogenic feed additives rich in bioactive compounds and probiotics, which can improve intestinal microbial balance, enhance antioxidant status, and improve digestive efficiency, thereby promoting health and production performance. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) exhibits remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties due to its content of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. On the other hand, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a well-known probiotic, improves gut microflora balance, enhances digestion and nutrient absorption, and stimulates mucosal immunity. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is considered a suitable experimental model for evaluating the nutritional effects of these compounds due to its rapid growth and favorable feed conversion ratio. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of purslane seed powder and S. cerevisiae yeast on the productive performance, carcass traits, gastrointestinal pH, intestinal microflora, antioxidant enzyme activity, serum biochemical indices, and intestinal morphology in Japanese quails.
Methods: The trial was conducted as a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates per treatment, each containing 10 same‑age male and female birds. The treatments were (1) a basal diet (control), (2) a basal diet + 1% purslane seed powder, (3) a basal diet + 2% purslane seed powder, and (4) a basal diet + 0.5% S. cerevisiae yeast. Diets were formulated to be iso‑caloric and iso‑nitrogenous according to NRC (1994) recommendations. The experimental period lasted 42 days. The recorded productive indices were final body weight, daily weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Carcass yield and percentages of liver, heart, abdominal fat, and gizzard were measured after the slaughter of representative birds. Intestinal contents were sampled to enumerate Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus spp., and gut pH was determined with a digital pH meter. Oxidative status and serum biochemistry, viz. malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high‑ and low‑density lipoproteins (HDL, LDL), and liver enzymes AST and ALT, were assessed using commercial kits. For morphometric analysis, hematoxylin–eosin‑stained sections of the duodenum and ileum were prepared to measure villus height, crypt depth, and the villus‑to‑crypt ratio. Data were analyzed in SAS software, and means were separated by Duncan’s test at p ≤ 0.05.
Results: Supplementation of 2% purslane seed powder significantly reduced E. coli counts to approximately 1,600 and markedly increased Lactobacillus counts to around 23,500 compared to the control. The S. cerevisiae yeast likewise decreased E. coli and elevated Lactobacillus relative to the control, although the magnitude of this change was lower than that observed with 2% purslane. Regarding carcass characteristics, neither purslane nor the yeast affected carcass percentage or most individual organs; however, liver percentage declined significantly in the 2% purslane group, suggesting a potential alleviation of lipid load and improved metabolic status. Intestinal pH decreased in the additive groups, with the greatest drop seen in birds receiving the yeast, an environment conducive to acid‑tolerant beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacilli. Systemically, the 2% purslane treatment significantly lowered MDA and increased the activities of SOD and GPx, indicating strengthened antioxidant defenses and reduced lipid peroxidation. The same treatment improved the lipid profile: TC, TG, and LDL were reduced compared to an increase in HDL. Histological evaluation showed that dietary purslane at 1% and 2% significantly enhanced villus height and the villus‑to‑crypt ratio and reduced crypt depth in both the duodenum and ileum. These changes are consistent with the enlarged absorptive surface area and improved digestive efficiency. The yeast also exerted favorable effects on these morphometric variables, though generally to a lesser extent than 2% purslane. Collectively, both additives modulated the gut milieu toward beneficial populations and structural optimization, but purslane at 2% achieved the most comprehensive improvements across microbial, morphological, and biochemical endpoints. The suite of bioactive constituents present in purslane seed—omega‑3 fatty acids together with flavonoids and other polyphenols—likely underlies the observed functional benefits. Omega‑3s can temper inflammatory pathways and support membrane integrity, while phenolic antioxidants scavenge reactive oxygen species, thereby lowering oxidative stress and protecting the intestinal epithelium. In parallel, a reduction in luminal pH and the associated increase in short‑chain organic acids favor the proliferation of commensal lactobacilli and suppress opportunistic pathogens, such as E. coli, promoting colonization resistance and a more stable microbiota. S. cerevisiae may complement these actions by providing growth factors and metabolites that stimulate beneficial bacteria, improving nutrient assimilation, and indirectly enhancing digestive enzyme activities. Nonetheless, in the present experiment, the breadth and intensity of responses favored the 2% purslane inclusion over the yeast alone, suggesting that the phytochemical matrix of purslane seeds confers multi‑targeted effects that extend beyond microbiota modulation.
Conclusion: Overall, adding purslane seed powder—particularly at 2% of the diet—improved the intestinal microbial balance by reducing E. coli and enriching Lactobacillus, strengthened antioxidant capacity (higher SOD and GPx, lower MDA), mitigated lipid peroxidation, refined the serum lipid profile (lower TC, TG, and LDL and higher HDL), and optimized intestinal architecture by increasing villus height and the villus‑to‑crypt ratio and decreasing crypt depth. These convergent changes translated into a more favorable gut environment and likely more efficient digestion and absorption, thereby supporting general health in Japanese quails. The S. cerevisiae yeast also produced beneficial shifts in gut flora and reduced pH, but its impacts on certain morphometric and biochemical metrics were less pronounced than those achieved with 2% purslane. Purslane seed powder, therefore, emerges as a practical phytogenic feed additive to enhance health and productivity in quails while aligning with strategies to curtail antibiotic dependence in poultry systems. Future work should examine higher inclusion levels and combined use with yeasts, as well as longer‑term monitoring of performance and immune markers, to define dose–response relationships and the durability of benefits.
Keywords: Intestinal Microflora, Japanese quail, Morphology, Portulaca oleracea, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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