Chemical composition and protective effect of guava (Psidium guajavaL.) leaf extract on piglet intestines

Abstract

BACKGROUND Dietary intervention is an important approach to improve intestinal function of weaned piglets. Phytogenic and herbal products have received increasing attention as in‐feed antibiotic alternatives. This study investigated the chemical composition of guava leaf extract (GE) by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). Meanwhile, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with GE on diarrhea in relation to immune responses and intestinal health in weaned piglets challenged by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). RESULTS In total, 323 characterized compounds, which including 91 phenolic compounds and 232 other compounds were identified. Animal experiment results showed that the supplementation of 50–200 mg kg−1 of GE in the diet could reduce diarrhea incidence, increase activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and total anti‐oxidant capacity in the serum (P < 0.05), decrease the levels of interleukin 1β, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α in the serum or jejunum mucosa (P < 0.05), and increase villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05) in the jejuna of piglets challenged by oral ETEC compared with negative control group (NC). Meanwhile, diet supplementation with 50–200 mg kg−1 GE reduced the levels of D‐lactate, endothelin‐1 and diamine oxidase in the serum, and increased the expression of zonula occludens‐1, Claudin‐1, Occludin and Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (P < 0.05) in the jejuna mucosa of piglets challenged by ETEC compared with the NC. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that GE could attenuate diarrhea and improve intestinal barrier function of piglets challenged by ETEC. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

Effects of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Leaf Extract on the Metabolomics of Serum and Feces in Weaned Piglets Challenged by Escherichia coli

“…In our previous study, the diarrhea incidences of piglets in the BC, NC, S50, S100, and S200 were 1.79, 21.43, 14.29, 8.93, and 7.14%, respectively. It suggested that dietary addition of GE could reduce diarrhea incidence significantly in weaned piglets challenged by ETEC ( 17 ). In general, diarrhea disease caused by ETEC infections is a major risk factor for impaired intestinal structure and barrier function of piglets.…”

“…Furthermore, previous studies also suggested that GE was rich in phenolics ( 28 ), and phenolics have a positive effect on gut health ( 29 ). Specifically, quercetin and myricetin, known as the main phenolic constituents in GE ( 17 , 30 ), have been demonstrated to enhance intestinal barrier function ( 31 ). Consequently, it is assumed that the abundant phenolics in GE exerted anti-inflammatory ( 32 ) and anti-diarrhea activity ( 15 ), and improved the intestinal barrier function and gut mucosal integrity of piglets.…”

“…The current feeding trial is from our previous published study ( 17 ). Fifty 21 ± 3 day-old crossbred weaned piglets (Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace, 7.35 ± 0.18 kg) were selected and transported from the piggery to the barn, where they were randomly allotted to five groups of five replicate pens per group (two piglets per pen).…”

“…Current studies have demonstrated that GE possesses antidiarrheal activity in various diarrhea models (15,16). Our previous study also indicated that GE could attenuate diarrhea and improve intestinal anti-inflammatory ability in piglets challenged by ETEC (17). However, there are few reports about the relationship between the antidiarrheal effect of GE and related metabolic regulation.…”

Study on the Effective Material Basis and Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription (QJC) Against Stress Diarrhea in Mice

“…During weaning, piglets are exposed to and must quickly adapt to various psychological, environmental, and physiological stressors ( 1 ), all of which are associated with weaning-related stress, which leads to changes in intestinal structure and function as well as imbalances in intestinal microbiota ( 3 ), eventually leading to post-weaning stress diarrhea. At present, dietary intervention is the most common method to alleviate weaning stress diarrhea ( 4 , 5 ), and plant extracts can improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of livestock and poultry to prevent various diseases ( 6 , 7 ).…”