Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail

IntroductionImmunosuppression in poultry production, particularly in high-value species like the Chinese yellow quail (Coturnix japonica), increases disease susceptibility and economic losses. Plant-derived polysaccharides, such as those from Terminalia chebula Retz (TC) and Rubia cordifolia L. proc...

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Main Authors: Jing Wang, Tiejin Tong, Qiang Wu, Min He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1620053/full
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author Jing Wang
Tiejin Tong
Qiang Wu
Min He
author_facet Jing Wang
Tiejin Tong
Qiang Wu
Min He
author_sort Jing Wang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionImmunosuppression in poultry production, particularly in high-value species like the Chinese yellow quail (Coturnix japonica), increases disease susceptibility and economic losses. Plant-derived polysaccharides, such as those from Terminalia chebula Retz (TC) and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide (RTCP), offer promising alternatives due to their ability to enhance host defense mechanisms without adverse effects. This study investigates RTCP’s efficacy in mitigating cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression in quails, focusing on immune function restoration.MethodsOne hundred and twenty 21-day-old healthy quails were randomly divided into six groups (n=20/group): a blank control (saline), a model group (saline + CTX), and four RTCP-treated groups (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 g/kg + CTX). CTX (80 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly (days 4–7) to induce immunosuppression, except in the blank control. Spleen indices, histology, cytokine profiles, antibody titers, GATA-3/T-bet mRNA expression, and transcriptional networks were analyzed.ResultsCTX significantly reduced spleen weight, organ indices, cytokine levels, and antibody titers (P<0.05). Compared to the model group, 0.5 g/kg RTCP restored spleen morphology and function, elevated cytokines (e.g., IL-2, IFN-γ) and immunoglobulins, and upregulated complement components (C3, C5) and acute-phase proteins, enhancing T-cell and B-cell activation (P<0.05). RTCP also rebalanced the Th1/Th2 axis by normalizing the T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, indicating immune homeostasis recovery.DiscussionRTCP effectively counteracted CTX-induced immunosuppression by modulating innate and adaptive immunity, including complement activation and Th1/Th2 balance. These findings highlight RTCP’s potential as a natural immunomodulator in poultry. Further research should optimize dosing and explore gut-microbiota-immune interactions to enhance therapeutic applications.
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spelling doaj-art-413a1d606946409cae9401df89f19f0f2025-08-20T03:29:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-07-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.16200531620053Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quailJing Wang0Tiejin Tong1Qiang Wu2Min He3School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin, ChinaSchool of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin, ChinaSchool of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, ChinaIntroductionImmunosuppression in poultry production, particularly in high-value species like the Chinese yellow quail (Coturnix japonica), increases disease susceptibility and economic losses. Plant-derived polysaccharides, such as those from Terminalia chebula Retz (TC) and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide (RTCP), offer promising alternatives due to their ability to enhance host defense mechanisms without adverse effects. This study investigates RTCP’s efficacy in mitigating cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression in quails, focusing on immune function restoration.MethodsOne hundred and twenty 21-day-old healthy quails were randomly divided into six groups (n=20/group): a blank control (saline), a model group (saline + CTX), and four RTCP-treated groups (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1 g/kg + CTX). CTX (80 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly (days 4–7) to induce immunosuppression, except in the blank control. Spleen indices, histology, cytokine profiles, antibody titers, GATA-3/T-bet mRNA expression, and transcriptional networks were analyzed.ResultsCTX significantly reduced spleen weight, organ indices, cytokine levels, and antibody titers (P<0.05). Compared to the model group, 0.5 g/kg RTCP restored spleen morphology and function, elevated cytokines (e.g., IL-2, IFN-γ) and immunoglobulins, and upregulated complement components (C3, C5) and acute-phase proteins, enhancing T-cell and B-cell activation (P<0.05). RTCP also rebalanced the Th1/Th2 axis by normalizing the T-bet/GATA-3 ratio, indicating immune homeostasis recovery.DiscussionRTCP effectively counteracted CTX-induced immunosuppression by modulating innate and adaptive immunity, including complement activation and Th1/Th2 balance. These findings highlight RTCP’s potential as a natural immunomodulator in poultry. Further research should optimize dosing and explore gut-microbiota-immune interactions to enhance therapeutic applications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1620053/fullTerminalia chebula RetzRubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharidetranscriptomicsimmunosuppressionChinese yellow quail
spellingShingle Jing Wang
Tiejin Tong
Qiang Wu
Min He
Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Terminalia chebula Retz
Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide
transcriptomics
immunosuppression
Chinese yellow quail
title Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail
title_full Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail
title_fullStr Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail
title_short Impact of Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide and Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail
title_sort impact of terminalia chebula retz polysaccharide and rubia cordifolia l processed terminalia chebula retz polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppression in chinese yellow quail
topic Terminalia chebula Retz
Rubia cordifolia L. processed Terminalia chebula Retz polysaccharide
transcriptomics
immunosuppression
Chinese yellow quail
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1620053/full
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