Dietary puerarin supplementation improves immune function in the small intestines of oxidized oil‐challenged broilers.

Puerarin has possessed a wide range of pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the protective effects of puerarin on the oxidized oil‐induced injury. Here, we describe the anti‐inflammatory effects of puerarin in chickens. A total of 360 broilers were arranged in four treatments. Diets included two types of soybean oil (fresh or oxidized) and two levels of puerarin (0 or 750 mg/kg). Results showed that puerarin alleviated oxidized soybean oil‐induced intestinal immune injury by decreasing the expressions of HSP and pro‐inflammatory factor (P < 0.05) and enhancing the mRNA levels of anti‐inflammatory factor and CATH‐1 (P < 0.05) in broilers. Moreover, puerarin supplementation decreased the mRNA abundances of TLR4 and MyD88 (P < 0.05) and upregulated the expressions of A20 and SOCS‐1 (P < 0.05) in the small intestine of oxidized soybean oil‐challenged broilers. Collectively, this study demonstrates puerarin may be a potential nutrient supplement in the treatment of oxidized oil‐induced damage in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]