BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of plant essential oil supplementation on growth performance, immune function and antioxidant activities in weaned pigs.MethodsIn the study, 24 weaned pigs were used to explore the effects of plant essential oil (PEO) on growth performance, immune properties and antioxidant activities. Pigs were fed with a basal diet (CON) or basal diet containing different concentrations of PEO (PEO50: 50 ppm; PEO100: 100 ppm; PEO200: 200 ppm). After 3 weeks, all pigs were slaughtered and blood and tissue samples were collected for biochemical analysis.ResultsThe results showed that PEO supplementation quadratically increased body weight gain (BWG) (P = 0.031), linearly (P <  0.05) and quadratically (P <  0.05) decreased F:G. In addition, IgG increased linearly (P <  0.05) and IgM increased linearly (P <  0.05) and quadratically (P < 0.05) as PEO supplementation. Similarly, MDA in serum, jejunal mucosa and pancreas were linearly decreased (P < 0.05) and GSH in serum (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05), duodenal mucosa (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) and in ileal mucosa (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05) were notably increased. Futhermore, antioxidant-related genes expression levels of GST in spleen (linear and quadratic, P < 0.05), GPX1 (quadratic, P < 0.05) and SOD1 (linear, P < 0.05) in spleen and GST in liver (quadratic, P < 0.05) were markedly upregulated by PEO supplementation increasing.ConclusionsThese results suggest that PEO improves growth performance, immune function, and antioxidant activities in weaned pigs, and it may also relieve weaning stress if used as a feed additive in the livestock industry. And that supplementation 200 ppm PEO in diet would seem to be economically feasible.

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The present study was conducted to explore the effect of plant essential oil (PEO) on growth performance, intestinal morphology and health in weaned pigs. Twenty‐four weaned pigs were assigned into four groups fed with a basal diet (CON) or basal diet containing PEO at a concentration of 50 (PEO50), 100 (PEO100) or 200 ppm (PEO200). After 21 days, pigs were slaughtered and blood and tissue samples were collected. Result showed that PEO200 group significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) compared with CON group (p < .05). Moreover, PEO supplementation significantly improved the digestibility of DM (p < .05). However, it significantly decreased the serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentration (p < .05). Interestingly, PEO supplementation significantly increased the activity of sucrase in the duodenal and the activity of lactase in the jejunal mucosa (p < .05). Moreover, PEO supplementation improved the growth of intestinal mucosa. As compared to the CON group, the jejunum and ileum villus height were significantly elevated in the PEO200 group (p < .05). Importantly, the expression levels of critical genes associated with nutrient transportation (i.e., GLUT2 and SGLT1) and barrier function (occludin) were significantly elevated in the PEO200 group (p < .05). Moreover, the PEO100 and PEO200 group had higher propionic acid concentration and higher total bacterial gene copies in colon digesta than the CON group (p < .05) respectively. These results not only suggest that PEO has a positive role in the regulation of growth and intestinal health in weaned pigs, but also offer a potential candidate substituting the conventionally used antibiotics in the livestock industry.