A carvacrol–thymol blend decreased intestinal oxidative stress and influenced selected microbes without changing the messenger RNA levels of tight junction proteins in jejunal mucosa of weaning piglets

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that intestinal oxidative stress and microbiota imbalance is involved in weaning-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets. We have investigated the effect of feeding a carvacrol-thymol blend supplemented diet on intestinal redox status, selected microbial populations and the intestinal barrier in weaning piglets. The piglets (weaned at 21 days of age) were randomly allocated to two groups with six pens per treatment and 10 piglets per pen. At weaning day (21 days of age), six piglets were sacrificed before weaning to serve as the preweaning group. The weaned group was fed with a basal diet, while the weaned-CB group was fed with the basal diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg carvacrol-thymol (1 : 1) blend for 14 days. On day 7 post-weaning, six piglets from each group were sacrificed to determine intestinal redox status, selected microbial populations, messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript levels of proinflammatory cytokines and biomarkers of intestinal barrier function. Weaning resulted in intestinal oxidative stress, indicated by the increased concentration of reactive oxygen species and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances present in the intestine. Weaning also reduced the population of Lactobacillus genus and increased the populations of Enterococcus genus and Escherichia coli in the jejunum, and increased mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 (IL-6). In addition, decreased mRNA levels of zonula occludens and occludin in the jejunal mucosa and increased plasma diamine oxidase concentrations indicated that weaning induced dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. On day 7 post-weaning, supplementation with the carvacrol-thymol blend restored weaning-induced intestinal oxidative stress. Compared with the weaned group, the weaned-CB group had an increased population of Lactobacillus genus but reduced populations of Enterococcus genus and E. coli in the jejunum and decreased mRNA levels of TNF-α. The results indicated that weaning induced intestinal oxidative stress and dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. Dietary supplementation with 100 mg/kg carvacrol-thymol (1 : 1) decreased the intestinal oxidative stress and influenced selected microbial populations without changing the biomarkers of intestinal barrier in weaning piglets.

Link between intestinal immunity and practical approaches to swine nutrition

“…Weaning and weaning-associated intestinal inflammation generate large amount of reactive species. Jejunum reactive oxygen species increase threefold, and thiobarbituric acidreactive substances increase 50% in 28-day-old weaned pigs compared with pre-weaning pigs (Wei et al, 2017). Similar results were reported by Zhu et al (2012) in that the concentrations of nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide were significantly increased after weaning.…”

“…Zeng et al (2017) remarked that perturbations of the microbiota are commonly observed in diseases involving inflammation in the GIT, with the inflamed microenvironment being particularly conducive to overgrowth of Enterobacteriaceae, which acquire fitness benefits while other families of symbiotic bacteria succumb to environmental changes. A recent study by Wei et al (2017) reported an increased concentration of reactive oxygen species in the intestine coupled with an expansion of the E. coli population 7 days after weaning. Overgrowth of E. coli induces further inflammation and activation of the immune system, which in turn generates more free radicals, and undermines its functions (Catoni et al, 2008).…”

Carvacrol and human health: A comprehensive review

“…It is noteworthy that the CV–TH blend increased Lactobacillus spp. while decreasing the Enterococcus and E. coli populations (Wei et al, ).…”

Transport stress induces pig jejunum tissue oxidative damage and results in autophagy/mitophagy activation

“…Transportation is a crucial factor influencing intestine structure and function, meat quality and slaughter efficiency in pigs (Zou et al, 2017). It has been demonstrated that transport stress may induce intestinal oxidative stress, which contributes to intestinal dysfunction (Wei, Xue, Zhou, & Peng, 2017). Gastrointestinal tract caused by transport stress may increase the risk of bacterial translocation, leading to poor meat quality, high morbidity and epidemic of infectious diseases (Simons, Hill, Swart, Kelly, & Snary, 2016).…”