Naringenin alleviates heat stress-induced liver injury in Ningdu yellow chickens by decreasing RIPK3 and PDC binding

Naringenin, a flavonoid extract, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antitumor, and antineurotoxic properties. This study investigated the anti-heat stress effects in broilers by adding 200mg/kg naringenin to the diet of Ningdu yellow chicken under heat stress conditions. Heat stress conditions was controlled at 37 ± 2°C (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and 24 ± 2°C (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) at humidity maintained at 60-65%. The results suggest that naringenin elevated the body weight and the ratio of liver mass to weight of Ningdu yellow chicken significantly. Additionally, naringenin significantly reduces heat stress level, improves liver function and antioxidant capacity. Meanwhile, the levels of necroptosis indexes (CYLD, RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL) and oxidative stress indexes (PDC, PYGL, GLUL and GLUD1) are downregulated by naringenin. Naringenin mitigated liver damage by decreasing inflammatory indexes caused by heat stress, including NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-18 and HMGB1. This anti-inflammatory effect arose through the downlink binding of the necroptosis index (RIPK3) and the oxidative stress index (PDC) as shown in results of fluorescence co-localization and co-immunoprecipitation. The use of naringenin in poultry may be a possible feed additive to address clinical heat stress.