The effect of a natural feed additive (Macleaya cordata), containing sanguinarine, on the performance and health status of weaning pigs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Sangrovit(®) , a plant-derived feed additive, given throughout the nursery stage via feed at 15 ppm and 50 ppm, on the health status and performance of weaners against negative controls. In a 900-sow farrow-to-finish farm, a total of 864 piglets were divided into three groups: (i) negative controls (NC); (ii) Sang 15: same feed as NCs, plus 15 g Sangrovit(®) /t of feed; (iii) Sang 50: same feed as NCs plus 50 g Sangrovit(®) /t of feed. The results indicated that administration of 50 ppm(-) Sangrovit(®) had the most beneficial effects on growth performance in weaning pigs. Specifically there was increase of body weight and average daily gain, as well as reduction of feed conversion ratio. Blood analysis from the Sang groups and especially the Sang 50 group revealed low values of haptoglobin and serum amyloid A.

Residue Study for a Standardized <i>Macleaya cordata</i> Extract in Growing-Finishing Swine

“…found that supplementation of 50 mg/kg Sangrovit® (containing 0.75 mg/kg sanguinarine) in the feed significantly increased feed consumption and feed conversion ratio in six-week-old piglets [2]. The performance discrepancy between different studies may be attributed to different sample size, difficulty in showing significant growth changes in short periods or growth variation between different swine breeds, as [13] reported that Sangrovit® exerted a significant effect on body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in two out of four experiment conducted on swine of different breeds and ages, but there were no effects on growth performance in the other two experiments.…”

“…M. cordata has been reported to contain considerable amounts of isoquinoline alkaloids, mainly sanguinarine and chelerythrine [1]. Sanguinarine and chelerythrine are bitter in taste and have the potential use as flavoring components to increase the feed intake in farm animals [2]. Swine is one of the most important livestock that provides more than one third of the meat production in the world [3].…”

“…M. cordata extract (MCE)-containing products, with a bitter flavor, have been used as a naturally-derived appetizing agent for addition to the feed of production animals including bovine [6] [7], poultry [8] [9], fish [10] and swine [2] [11] Sangrovit® is a standardized preparation of the botanically-derived feed additive that contains 3.5% MCE (providing at least 1.5% sanguinarine). Dietary supplementation with Sangrovit® has been demonstrated to increase the feed intake and optimize nutrient absorption in chickens and other species [12].…”

“…Research in swine has shown that Sangrovit® exerts a positive effect to increase the body weight gain and feed conversion rate in growing swine [13]. Supplementation of 50 mg/kg Sangrovit® in the feed for four weeks greatly promotes the growth in weaning piglets [2]. However, few studies have been performed to examine the safety of MCE consumption for swine and MCE residues remaining in swine organs and tissues, which are the major edible parts for humans.…”

<i>Macleaya cordata</i> Extract Reduces Inflammatory Responses of Intestinal Epithelial Cells <i>in Vitro</i>

“…Thus it appears that MCE (and other growth promoters) inhibit inflammation in vitro as well as in vivo [10] [21]. Inflammation is known to reduce growth (through inappetance and muscle catabolism), which explains why effective growth promoters must be inhibitors of inflammatory responses, thus sparing energy for growth [2].…”