Application of Scutellariae radix, Gardeniae fructus, and probiotics
in preventing Salmonella enterica serovar
Typhimurium infection inchickens
Yuan-Man Hsu1
1
Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
yuanmh@mail.cmu.edu.tw
Chiung-Hung Chang2
2
Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
ocean9mountain9@yahoo.com.tw
Chiu-Hsian Su1
1
Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
adaga0806@hotmail.com
Yueh-Sheng Chen2
2
Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
yuehsc@mail.cmu.edu.tw
Bi Yu3
3
Department of Animal Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
byu@dragon.nchu.edu.tw
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium usually causes septicemia and is a host-adapted pathogen of chickens. It also causes systemic infection in humans and is one of the important serotypes for salmonellosis transmitted from animals to
humans. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains have been widely studied in recent years for their probiotic properties. In this study, we aimed to develop a combination of LAB strains and herbal plants as feed additives for preventing S. Typhimurium infection in chickens. A chicken infection model was applied to evaluate the effects of LAB strains and herbal plants (Scutellariae radix and Gardeniae fructus) against S. Typhimurium infection. LAB strains and herbal plants showed their abilities on reducing bacteria shedding in feces. SR and GF+LAB could also suppress serum levels of IL-8 induced by infection. SR and GF could decrease infection-induced IFN- and IL-1 levels in intestinal tissues. Further studies were conducted to identify the active compounds of SR and GF. Baicalein and genipin exhibited stronger cytotoxicity than baicalin and geniposide did, and also significantly prevented Salmonella invading macrophages. These data indicated that these aglycones are more active than their parent compounds. Our study suggested that LAB strains have showed their function for preventing infection by adjusting the enzymatic activity of intestinal microbes in order to converter herbal compounds to active compounds. And SR/GF and LAB strains mixture could be potential infection prevention agents supplied as feed additives.
Keywords: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Scutellariae radix, Gardeniae fructus, probiotics
