Work

Effects of chlorogenic acid on production performance, antioxidant capacity and intestinal microbiota of quails exposed to cold stress

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cold stress adversely impairs productive performance, disrupts lipid metabolism, and breaks intestinal microecological homeostasis in poultry. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) exhibits multiple biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic regulatory activities. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary CGA supplementation on laying performance, egg quality, lipid metabolism, antioxidant activity, and intestinal microbial composition in cold-stressed laying quails. A total of 144 high-yield laying quails (210-day-old) were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 replicates each (n = 6/replicate). The control group (CON) and cold stress group (MOD) received a basal diet. The low-dose CGA group (LDG) and high-dose CGA group (HDG) received a basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg CGA, respectively, for 1 week before cold stress exposure. Quails in the MOD, LDG, and HDG groups were exposed to 5°C for 10 h while the CON group was maintained at 24°C. The results demonstrated that dietary CGA supplementation significantly reversed the cold stress-induced decline in laying rate, and improved the yolk index and Haugh unit compared with the MOD group. Meanwhile, CGA treatment increased the activities of CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px, and reduced the contents of MDA, T-CHO, and TG. Furthermore, dietary CGA supplementation raised the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bacteroidetes) and lowered that of potential pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Enterococcus). Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses predicted that CGA could interact with several potential target proteins, including DBT, BCKDHA, ALDH18A1, DLD, HSPE1, FH, YARS1, and CLPP. In conclusion, dietary CGA supplementation could alleviate cold stress-induced physiological damage in laying quails by improving lipid metabolism, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and modulating intestinal microbiota structure.

Source: Poultry Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107870