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Effects of Arabinoxylans on Activation of Murine Macrophages and Growth Performance of Broiler Chicks

¹Department of Food Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2009. ²Corresponding author. Fax: 765-494-7953. E-mail: zhangp@foodsci.purdue.edu ³Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-1026.

Arabinoxylans occur in a wide variety of agricultural products and may contribute a significant portion of human dietary fiber intake. Corn hulls and banana peels are potential sources of arabinoxylans with isolation yields of ≈40 and 10% when extracted with dilute alkali. A broiler chick growth study was performed to determine the effect of extracted corn hull arabinoxylan on performance and attachment of Salmonella, as a representative of an enteric pathogen, to the ileum. Ability of arabinoxylans to activate a macrophage cell line as an immune stimulator was determined by respiratory burst assay. Corn hull arabinoxylan tended to increase body weight gain and reduced attachment of Salmonella to ileal tissue in broiler chicks undergoing mild heat stress. Arabinoxylans from corn hulls and banana peels showed positive oxidative burst in macrophage cells. Collectively, these data indicate the two arabinoxylans have the potential to be used as health-promoting dietary supplements.