Dual-Pathway Defense: Ultramicro-Pulverised Powder of Polygonum chinense L. and Atractylodes rhizome (PAUP) Rescues Broilers From E. coli-Triggered Liver Injury Through Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation.

This study characterizes the composition and blood components of ultramicro-pulverized Polygonum chinense L. and Atractylodes rhizome powder (PAUP) and investigates its protective mechanisms against Escherichia coli (E. coli)-induced liver injury in broilers. PAUP constituents and serum metabolites were profiled by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Fourteen-day-old broilers were randomly divided into 6 groups: control, E. coli model, gentamicin, and PAUP high/medium/low-dose groups. Broilers were infected with 1010 CFU/mL E. coli O157:H7 via intraperitoneal injection. PAUP was administered 4 h post-E. coli infection for 7 days by gavage. Then, serum and liver samples from half of the chicks in each group were collected for further analysis. Recovery groups were analyzed after 7 additional days. UPLC-MS identified 718 PAUP components, predominantly lipid, flavonoids, acids, and oxides. Serum metabolomics revealed 130 significantly elevated metabolites in PAUP groups, including atractylenolide I, linoleic acid, araliadiol, baicalin, gallocatechin, atractylodin, etc. PAUP normalized weight gain, reduced feed conversion ratio (FCR), and liver index in E. coli -infected broilers. It significantly decreased bacterial load, suppressed serum AST and TBA levels, and relieved liver histopathological damage. Furthermore, PAUP restored redox balance (increased GSH activity, decreased MDA and ROS levels) via Nrf2-HO-1 pathway actvation (increased protein levels of Nrf2, Keap1, NQO1 and HO-1). PAUP obviously attenuated inflammation (decreased IL-6 and TNF-α) through TLR4/NF-κB inhibition. PAUP mitigates E. coli-induced liver injury through Nrf2/HO-1-mediated antioxidant activation and TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory suppression.