Ultrasound-assisted preparation of flaxseed oil nanoemulsions coated with alginate-whey protein for targeted delivery of omega-3 fatty acids into the lower sections of gastrointestinal tract to enrich broiler meat.

Flaxseed oil is one of the richest sources of α-linolenic acid (ALA). However, the susceptibility of ALA to oxidation and also lack of the convenient methods to deliver these invaluable compound into the lower sections of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) are still unknown. The objective of the current study was to establish a method for ALA targeted delivery into the lower sections of GIT to enrich broiler meat. An in vitro study was performed to use ultrasound to produce oil-in-water nanoemulsions of flaxseed oil stabilized by different wall materials for controlled release of ALA in GIT. The fabricated nanoemulsions were assessed in terms of particle size distribution, zeta-potential, encapsulation efficiency, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and in vitro gastric and intestinal digestions. Results indicated that the nanoemulsions coated by a combination of whey protein-sodium alginate (WP/SA) had a relatively uniform distribution and all particles distributed in less than 1000 nm. The values of zeta-potential for nanoemulsions stabilized by whey protein (WP), sodium alginate (SA) and WP/SA were -31.4, -29.3 and -45.5 mV, respectively. The wall combination of WP/SA showed the best encapsulation efficiency followed by WP. The FESEM results indicated spherical and non-aggregated structures for three types of nanoemulsions. The nanoemulsions stabilized by WP/SA showed a high resistance to in vitro gastric digestion but a relatively rapid release during intestinal digestion. An in vivo study was conducted to enrich broiler meat with ALA, using the best wall material from the in vitro study. In total, 300 one-day-old broilers (Ross, 308) were assigned into 5 experimental treatments including: basal diet (BD), basal diet plus flaxseed oil (BD + FO, 1 mL/kg body weight), basal diet plus ultrasonicated flaxseed oil nanoemulsions stabilized by WP/SA (BD + FON, 1 mL/kg body weight), basal diet plus flaxseed oil and vitamin E (BD + FO + E, 1 mL/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg diet vitamin E) and basal diet plus ultrasonicated flaxseed oil nanoemulsions stabilized by WP/SA and vitamin E (BD + FON + E, 1 mL/kg body weight of nanoemulsion and 200 mg/kg diet vitamin E). Each experimental treatment included 4 replicates in a completely randomized design. Results showed a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) in birds treated with dietary treatments compared with those received basal diet. A greater incorporation of ALA and total poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) omega-3 were observed in thigh and breast meat of birds fed by ultrasonicated flaxseed oil nanoemulsions. In comparison to birds fed with BD, a favourably lower PUFA omega-6/omega-3 ratio was observed in birds received nanoemulsions of flaxseed oil. In general, the current study showed that using ultrasound to produce nanoemulsions stabilized by WP/SA has potential to protect ALA of flaxseed oil from gastric digestion and could be used as delivery carriers of ALA omega-3 fatty acid to the posterior sections of chicken GIT. Moreover, ultrasonic fabrication of nanoemulsion has potential to enrich broiler meat by ALA fatty acid.

Fermented rapeseed meal is effective in controlling Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection and improving growth performance in broiler chicks.

The aim of present experiment was to assess the effects of fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) on Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) colonization and growth performance in broiler chicks. Two hundred forty day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were divided into six experimental treatments with four replicates and 10 birds per each. The treatments were including two positive and negative controls which birds received a basal corn-soybean diet as well as four others which birds received the diets that rapeseed meal (RSM) or FRSM was replaced with soybean meal at 50 and 100% levels. All chicks except the negative control birds were challenged orally with 105 CFU of S. Typhimurium at 3days of age. Results showed that birds were fed FRSM had significantly greater lactic acid bacteria populations and lesser S. Typhimurium colonization in ileal and cecal sections compared to others (P<0.05). The less percentage of liver and bursa of fabricius was belonged to negative control group. At 10day, feeding chicks with diet containing FRSM, but not RSM, significantly decreased the organ invasion by S. Typhimurium (P<0.05). Heterophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly lesser in chicks were fed FRSM compared to those fed RSM or positive control (P<0.05). Birds were fed FRSM had significantly higher weight gain and better feed conversion ratio compared to those birds were fed RSM (P<0.05). The findings of present experiment concerning positive effects of feeding FRSM on reducing S. Typhimurium and improving growth performance show that this processed protein source can be considered as a nutritional effective strategy to control Salmonella contamination in broiler chicks.