Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Leaf Polysaccharides on Immune Parameters of Weanling Pigs

Abstract

Simple Summary: The increasing overuse/misuse of restricted antibiotics in livestock and poultry production has raised a serious health concern. Thus, aiming to improve animals' health levels, researchers are redirecting their focus onto naturally occurring bioactive ingredients from plants; these compounds have become a potential substitute for antibiotics. Mulberry leaf polysaccharide (MLP) is an important bioactive component, which has notable potential for improving animal immunity. In this context, the present study was designed to investigate the MLPs' effect on animals' metabolisms and the immune parameters of weanling pigs.Abstract: In this study, the effect of dietary supplementation of mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLPs) on the immune parameters-i.e., the immune organ weight, serum immunoglobulins, cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) production, and insulin-Like growth factor-1 (IGF1) mRNA expression-of weanling pigs as a model animal was investigated. A total of 120 healthy weanling pigs (aged 28 ± 2 d) with the same body weights were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Control treatment (CT), basal diet (BD), (2) MLP low-dose treatment (MLT), 0.6 g/kg MLP + BD, (3) MLP high-dose treatment (MHT), 1.2 g/kg MLP + BD, and (4) antibiotic treatment (AT), 0.15 g/kg chlortetracycline + BD. The results revealed that the thymus and spleen indices were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in both MLT and MHT groups in comparison with the CT group, while the serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-8, and interferon (IFN-γ) in the MLT group and IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the MHT group were also considerably greater (P < 0.05) than the corresponding levels in the CT group. The serum contents of IgG, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-8 in the MLT group and IL-2 and IL-6 in the MHT group were significantly increased in comparison with the corresponding contents in the AT group (P < 0.05). The transformation rate of lymphocytes in the MLT and MHT groups was higher compared to the CT and AT groups. However, a notable difference was found between the MLT group and the two control groups. The peripheral lymphocyte NO production in the MLT, MHT, and AT groups was significant relative to the CT group. The expression levels of IGF1 mRNA in the liver and muscle longissimus tissues of both the MLT and MHT groups showed significant improvement (P < 0.05) over those in the CT group. Moreover, the IGF1 mRNA expression in the muscle longissimus from the MLT group was significantly higher than in the AT group. In conclusion, the results suggest that incorporating MLPs into the diets of weanling pigs improves the animals' metabolisms and immune functions, and the effects of the MLT group were superior to those of both the MHT and AT groups.

Mining Novel Specific Rumen Bacteria to Enhance the Bioactive Function of Mulberry Leaf in Promoting Host Antioxidant Activity and Immunomodulatory

“…However, the current study did not nd the changes of serum glucose and TNF-α, but with increased serum IFN-γ concentration shown in the current study. Mulberry leaves silage probably contains polyphenols and polysaccharides that could exert similar effects, as polyphenols and polysaccharides can inhibit in ammatory processes by improving serum IFN-γ concentration or affecting microbiota [40,41]. In addition, cumulative evidences indicate that mulberry leaf polysaccharides have immunomodulating activity, which has been assessed on many different kind cells and macrophage-dependent immune system responses [42].…”

“…On the other hand, Bi dobacteria can utilize a variety of iso avones, mono-and oligosaccharide, and polysaccharides [45]. Mulberry leaf contains abundant polysaccharides and other plant secondary metabolites [41,48], thus the increased abundance of rumen Bi dobacteria in the MS group might due to the feeding of mulberry leaf silage. Our ndings for the increased abundance of rumen Bi dobacteria in MS group compared to AS group and its highly positively correlation with serum IFN-γ seem to indicate the bene cial effects of genus Bi dobacterium on Tan-sheep.…”

Potential Application of Plant-Based Functional Foods in the Development of Immune Boosters

“…These reports indicated that the thymus and spleen indices in the MLP groups (0.6 and 1.2 g/kg) were noticeably greater (p < 0.05) than those in the control group. Moreover, MLP supplementation elevated the levels of the serum cytokines interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and interferon (IFN)-γ, and increased the lymphocyte transformation rate (Zhao X. J. et al, 2019). These results suggest that MLP can markedly enhance immunity, and therefore can be used as an immune-enhancing drug candidate.…”

The role of Rho GTPases’ substrates Rac and Cdc42 in osteoclastogenesis and relevant natural medicinal products study

“…These data indicated that the blockage of TGF-β1/Rac1 signaling by DADS may be responsible for the suppression of EMT and cellular invasion. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is a common fruit in temperate, subtropical and tropical areas, and contains abundant polyphenols and anthocyanin components [58,59]. Study showed the anthocyanins from the mulberry could inhibit the B16-F1 cell linage invasion [60].…”

“…Mulberry ( Morus alba L. ) is a common fruit in temperate, subtropical and tropical areas, and contains abundant polyphenols and anthocyanin components [ 58 , 59 ]. Study showed the anthocyanins from the mulberry could inhibit the B16-F1 cell linage invasion [ 60 ].…”