Glycyrrhiza Extract and Curcumin Alleviates the Toxicity of Cadmium via Improving the Antioxidant and Immune Functions of Black Goats

Abstract

To investigate the mitigative effects of glycyrrhiza extract (GE) and curcumin (CUR) on the antioxidant and immune functions of the Guizhou black goat exposed to cadmium (Cd), 50 healthy Guizhou black goats (11.08 ± 0.22 kg, male, six months old) were used in a 60-day trial and were randomly assigned to five groups with 10 replicates per group, one goat per replicate. All goats were fed a basal diet, with drinking water and additives varying slightly between groups. Control group: tap water (0.56 μg·L−1 Cd); Cd group: drinking water containing Cd (20 mg Cd·kg−1·body weight, CdCl2·2.5H2O); GE group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg−1 GE; CUR group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg−1 CUR; combined group: drinking water containing Cd, at days 31 to 60, the basic diet had added 500 mg·kg−1 GE and CUR. Compared with the Cd group, GE and CUR significantly increased the levels of hemoglobin and red blood cell count in the blood, and the activities of serum antioxidant enzyme activity and immune function in the Guizhou black goat (p < 0.05). The treatment effect in the combined group was better than that in the GE and CUR groups. The results showed that GE and CUR improved the antioxidant and immune functions of the serum and livers of the Guizhou black goat and alleviated the toxicity damage of Cd contamination. This research has positive implications for both livestock management and human health.