Effects of activated charcoal-herb extractum complex on the growth performance, immunological indices, intestinal morphology and microflora in weaning piglets

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of activated charcoal-herb extractum complex (CHC) on the growth performance, immunological indices, intestinal morphology and microflora in weaning piglets to determine the optimal supplemental dose. A total of 216 weaned piglets (Duroc  Landrace  Large White) with an initial body weight of 8.55 AE 1.18 kg were randomly assigned to six treatment groups; each treatment group had six pens, with six pigs per pen. The study period was 28 d. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 500, 1000, 1500 or 2000 mg kg À1 of CHC over two 14-d periods. Two additional diets containing 0 and 1000 mg kg À1 of montmorillonite were set as the negative and positive controls, respectively. Supplementation with 500 mg kg À1 of CHC significantly increased average daily gain compared with the positive and negative controls during phase I and the entire experimental period (P < 0.05). During phase I, 500 and 1000 mg kg À1 of CHC significantly decreased diarrhea incidence compared with the negative control, and increased serum IGF-1 and serum IgM levels compared with the controls (P < 0.05). CHC at 500 mg kg À1 significantly decreased the diarrhea score during the entire experimental period compared with the negative control (P < 0.05). On day 28, supplementation with 500 and 1000 mg kg À1 of CHC increased serum IgG, IL-1b, and duodenum and jejunum secretory IgA compared with the negative control and decreased duodenum and jejunum MDA levels compared with the controls (P < 0.05). Increased duodenum and jejunum villus height and an increased ratio of villus height to crypt depth were observed compared with the negative control and decreased viable counts of E. coli in the cecum were detected compared with the controls (P < 0.05). Collectively, the optimal dose of CHC was found to be 500 to 1000 mg kg À1 in this study.Means within the same row without common superscripts differ signicantly (P < 0.05). b IgM immune globulin M, IgA immune globulin A, IgG immune globulin G, IL-1b interleukin-1b, IFN-g interferon-g.5952 | RSC Adv., 2019,9,[5948][5949][5950][5951][5952][5953][5954][5955][5956][5957] This journal is

Effects of Activated Charcoal-Herb Extractum Complex on Antioxidant Status, Lipid Metabolites and Safety of Excess Supplementation in Weaned Piglets

“…In this study, we found that CHC showed its antioxidative effect by decreasing concentration of MDA in serum at 500 to 1000 mg kg −1 , and kidney and liver MDA at 500 mg kg −1 . A decreased concentration of MDA in the duodenum and jejunum was observed in pigs fed 500 and 1000 mg kg −1 of CHC in previous study [11]. MDA is the end product of lipid peroxidation by free radicals in vivo.…”

“…In a previous study, we found that CHC can promote growth performance, immunological indices, intestinal morphology and microflora in weaned piglets [11]. In the connect study, we further investigated CHC effects on oxidative stress that generated in weaning piglets and its effect on plasma lipid metabolism.…”

“…CHC was obtained from the Fujian Baicaoshaung Biotechnology Co., Ltd (Nanping, China). The manufacture of CHC was reported in a previous paper [11]. In brief, CHC is a combination of activated materials prepared from cedarwood and pine wood and Chinese herbal extractum.…”

“…Chinese herbs, used as natural plant remedies, play an important role in serum lipid metabolism and oxidation capacity. In a previous study, CHC promoted growth performance, alleviated diarrhea, enhanced immune responses, improved intestinal morphology and reduced viable counts of E. coli in the cecum [11]. Montmorillonite (MMT) is also widely used as an absorbent for improvement of diarrhea in weaned piglets but did not affect antioxidant status and serum lipid profiles.…”

Forsythia suspensa extract enhances performance via the improvement of nutrient digestibility, antioxidant status, anti-inflammatory function, and gut morphology in broilers

“…The reason might be that the main ingredients in FSE could improve proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes and intestinal permeability, so as to increase the intestinal capacity to utilize nutrients ( Hao et al., 2010 ). Previous research studies also showed similar results because herb extracts could help increase the height and width of villi and decrease duodenum crypt depth ( Iser et al., 2016 ); improve the duodenum, jejunum villus height, and ratio of villus height to crypt depth ( Wang et al., 2019 ); and therefore improve the gut development of broilers ( Cross et al., 2007 ).…”