Ursolic acid improves growth performance, intestinal health, and antioxidant status in broilers by regulating lipid metabolism and the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway.

ABSTRACT: In response to the urgent need for alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production, this study evaluated the effects of ursolic acid (UA), a plant-derived triterpenoid, on growth performance, metabolism, intestinal function, and antioxidant capacity in broilers. A total of 320 Cobb broilers were randomly divided into four groups: a control group and three groups supplemented with UA at 0, 50, 200, or 400 mg/kg of diet, with 8 replicates of 10 birds each, over a 42-day period. Body weight and feed intake were measured on days 21 and 42. On day 42, samples were collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), untargeted metabolomics, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, meat quality assessment, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses. Data were analyzed using one-way analysi

SUBMITTER: Zhao M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12568757 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature