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<p>The broiler industry faces an urgent demand for the development of sustainable and antibiotic-free methods to combat widespread environmental and metabolic stressors, resulting in decreased performance of birds, compromised welfare, and substantial financial losses. This complete review focuses on the use of plant flavonoids (PFs) as a multicomponent antistress approach to address the common outcomes of all these stressors: systemic oxidative stress and gut barrier dysfunction. Through the detailed evaluation of over 300 scientific references, this review has demonstrated that PFs have dual-signaling pathway actions to protect animals against these stresses. The first action involves powerful antioxidant activity via the activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway, leading to the upregulation of phase II detoxification enzymes and cytoprotective enzymes (GPX and GST) to restore the cellular redox state. These enhanced defense systems are critical for protecting cells against chronic heat stress and for providing clearance mechanisms against highly toxic mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B1; Ochratoxin A). The second action of PFs is strong anti-inflammatory protection via the inhibition of the antagonistic NF-κB signaling pathway, which attenuates proinflammatory cytokine storms. This attenuation directly supports intestinal barrier function by promoting the expression of tight junction proteins in response to both heat stress and enterotoxic mycotoxins (T-2 toxin), thus preventing leaky gut syndrome. Additionally, PFs can be used to mitigate acute physiological challenges. By modulating the HPA axis, they can reduce the circulating levels of stress hormones (corticosterone/cortisol) in birds subjected to handling and transportation stress. Finally, the antioxidant properties of PFs penetrate muscle tissue, thereby preventing oxidation and stabilizing the myofibrillar protein structure postmortem. This action results in higher-quality poultry meat with lower drip loss. Although specific flavonoid compounds such as those found in <i>Silphium perfoliatum</i> L. may hold promise, the real value of PFs lies in their ability to act via these common downstream pathways (Nrf2/NF-kB) to position them as emerging, sustainable alternatives. Therefore, future research should prioritize controlled feeding trials and cost‒benefit analyses to quickly develop PF-based feed additives that improve global growth performance, decrease mortality, and increase the quality of poultry meat.</p>

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Research progress on plant flavonoids as a strategy against oxidative stress in broilers: mechanistic insights and the potential of Silphium perfoliatum L.: review

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月6日

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  • Kabelo Anthony Makatjane,
  • Haizhu Zhou

摘要

The broiler industry faces an urgent demand for the development of sustainable and antibiotic-free methods to combat widespread environmental and metabolic stressors, resulting in decreased performance of birds, compromised welfare, and substantial financial losses. This complete review focuses on the use of plant flavonoids (PFs) as a multicomponent antistress approach to address the common outcomes of all these stressors: systemic oxidative stress and gut barrier dysfunction. Through the detailed evaluation of over 300 scientific references, this review has demonstrated that PFs have dual-signaling pathway actions to protect animals against these stresses. The first action involves powerful antioxidant activity via the activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway, leading to the upregulation of phase II detoxification enzymes and cytoprotective enzymes (GPX and GST) to restore the cellular redox state. These enhanced defense systems are critical for protecting cells against chronic heat stress and for providing clearance mechanisms against highly toxic mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B1; Ochratoxin A). The second action of PFs is strong anti-inflammatory protection via the inhibition of the antagonistic NF-κB signaling pathway, which attenuates proinflammatory cytokine storms. This attenuation directly supports intestinal barrier function by promoting the expression of tight junction proteins in response to both heat stress and enterotoxic mycotoxins (T-2 toxin), thus preventing leaky gut syndrome. Additionally, PFs can be used to mitigate acute physiological challenges. By modulating the HPA axis, they can reduce the circulating levels of stress hormones (corticosterone/cortisol) in birds subjected to handling and transportation stress. Finally, the antioxidant properties of PFs penetrate muscle tissue, thereby preventing oxidation and stabilizing the myofibrillar protein structure postmortem. This action results in higher-quality poultry meat with lower drip loss. Although specific flavonoid compounds such as those found in Silphium perfoliatum L. may hold promise, the real value of PFs lies in their ability to act via these common downstream pathways (Nrf2/NF-kB) to position them as emerging, sustainable alternatives. Therefore, future research should prioritize controlled feeding trials and cost‒benefit analyses to quickly develop PF-based feed additives that improve global growth performance, decrease mortality, and increase the quality of poultry meat.