Hypocholesterolemic Response to Karaya Saponin and Rhodobacter capsulatus in Broiler Chickens

Dietary karaya saponin and Rhodobacter capsulatus (R. capsulatus) are known to have hypocholesterolemic actions, as reported in our previous studies. This study examined possible synergistic hypocholesterolemic effects of karaya saponin and R. capsulatus in broilers. A total of 150 broilers were allocated into 10 treatments: control, saponin 25 mg, saponin 50 mg, saponin 75 mg, saponin 25 mg+R. capsulatus 0.2 g, saponin 25 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g, saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.2 g, saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g, saponin 75 mg+R. capsulatus 0.2 g and saponin 75 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g. Feed intake and feed efficiency were improved when karaya saponin and R. capsulatus were synergistically supplemented in the diet. Combinations of karaya saponin, especially supplementation of karaya saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g were shown to have potential hypolipidemic actions in breast and thigh muscle cholesterol and triglycerides, serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as improved high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (p<0.05). Compared to the control, almost all the treatments significantly increased serum, liver and fecal concentrations of bile acids (p<0.05). Supplementation of both karaya saponin (75 mg) and saponin 50 mg+R. capsulatus 0.4 g reduced palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) in a similar fashion (p<0.05). The ratios of PUFA:SFA or PUFA+MUFA:SFA in the thigh and breast muscle of broilers were greater in karaya saponin and R. capsulatus supplemented groups than in the control group. Thus, our study concluded that supplementation of karaya saponin synergistically with R. capsulatus in the diet of broilers is an effective way to obtain low-cholesterol, low-triglyceride and high HDL-cholesterol enriched poultry meat with a unique fatty acid balance. (