412 Synergism between exogenous lactoferrin and dietary Hibiscus sabdariffa extract in prevention of mastitis in dairy goats during the dry period.

Abstract

The potential synergistic effects of lactoferrin (Lf) and Hibiscus sabdariffa extract (HSE) on biomarkers of inflammation in clinical mastitis have not been studied. The objective was to evaluate the effects of exogenous Lf and dietary HSE on cytokines production in dairy goats during the dry period. Twenty dairy goats were randomly allocated to 4 treatments with 5 goats/group. Experimental period lasted 19-d. One group of dairy goats was fed the basal diet (control) and the second group was fed the basal diet followed by intra-mammary gland infusion of 100 mg Lf/udder up to 5 days (C + Lf). The third group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 5 g of freeze-dried HSE up to 5 days (C + HSE) and the fourth group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 5 g of freeze-dried HSE followed by intra-mammary gland infusion of 100 mg Lf/udder up to 5 days (C + HSE + Lf). Lf and the polyphenols present in HSE were detected in blood plasma by HPLC method. Cytokine expression levels in PBMC were analyzed by RT-PCR. Compared to the control, intra-mammary gland infusion of Lf decreased TNF-alpha, positive lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by 9% and TNF-alpha, negative LPS by 6% in the C+ Lf group and to a greater extent in the C + HSE + Lf group (12 % TNF-alpha, positive LPS, and 8% TNF-alpha, negative LPS). A significant reduction (P < 0.05) in IL-6 level was observed in the C + Lf group and C + HSE + Lf group compared with C group and C + HSE group. The intake of HSE decreased (P < 0.05) plasma MCP-1 concentrations. These results revealed that HSE-fed goats treated with exogenous Lf exhibited a synergist effect by inducing the reduction of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines.