Effects of feeding Kushenqi decoction and its extracts on immune function and antioxidant capacity of beef cattle under cold stress

ZHAI Xuelin; MORIGEN Bielige; HU Sileng; WU Linhua; YANG Xinru; YI Lina; HE Xinmei; WANG Chunjie

doi:10.13557/j.cnki.issn1002-2813.2025.23.005

Abstract：This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of the Mongolian veterinary medicine Kushenqi decoction and its extracts on the immune and antioxidant functions in beef cattle under cold stress.A total of 40 healthy seven-month-old Simmental cattle in the growing period with similar body condition and weight were selected and randomly divided into eight groups,namely the cold stress control group(cold stress group),cinnamon tincture group(group CIN),low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Kushenqi decoction groups(groups BGSS-L,BGSS-M,BGSS-H),and low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose extract groups(groups BGSSE-L,BGSSE-M,BGSSE-H).Each group had five replicates,with one cattle per replicate.The pre-trial period was three days,and the formal trial period was seven days,during which all groups except the cold stress group received the medication twice daily.The results showed that compared with cold stress group,the average daily gain(ADG)was improved in each experiment group.The plasma interleukin-6(IL-6)content was significantly decreased in each experiment group(P<0.05),the tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)content was significantly decreased in groups BGSS-L and BGSSE-L(P<0.05),and the content of interleukin-2(IL-2)in the groups BGSS-M,BGSS-H,BGSSE-M,BGSSE-H and CIN was significantly increased(P<0.05).The immunoglobulin G(IgG)content in groups BGSS-L and CIN was significantly higher than that in the cold stress group(P<0.05).Compared with the cold stress group,the glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity was significantly increased in groups BGSS-L and CIN(P<0.05),the superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity was significantly increased in groups BGSSE-H and CIN(P<0.05),the malondialdehyde(MDA)content in the groups BGSSE-L,BGSSE-M,BGSSE-H was significantly lower than that in the cold stress group and group CIN(P<0.05),and the total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)in group CIN was significantly higher than that in other groups(P<0.05).The study shows that the Kushenqi decoction and its extracts can effectively alleviate inflammation and oxidative damage induced by cold stress in beef cattle,enhance immune and antioxidant functions,and improve short-term weight gain.Considering all inexes,the group BGSS-L showed better improvement effects.