The effect of dietary addition of a polysaccharide from Atractylodes macrophala Koidz on growth performance, immunoglobulin concentration and IL-1β expression in weaned piglets

Abstract

SU MMARYThe present study was conducted to determine the effects of a polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrophala Koidz (PAM) as a dietary additive on growth performance, immunoglobulin concentration and IL-1b expression in weaned piglets. One hundred and twenty LandracerYorkshire piglets weaned at 28 days old (body weight 7 . 5¡0 . 07 kg) were assigned to five treatment groups (three pens/ group, eight piglets/pen) fed maize/soybean-based diets supplemented with 0, 3, 6 or 9 g of PAM/kg diet or antibiotics (0 . 4 g flavomycin/kg+0 . 13 g olaquindox/kg). The experimental period was 28 days. With increasing PAM supplementation levels, average daily gain was greater (quadratic, P<0 . 05) and the ratio of amount fed to live weight (LW) gain (feed/gain) improved (quadratic, P<0 . 05) during days 14-28 and overall, and diarrhoea incidence decreased (linear, P<0 . 05) during days 14-28. Supplementation of PAM also increased (quadratic, P<0 . 05) serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-6 on day 14, and increased (quadratic, P<0 . 05) IL-1b expression in jejunal mucosa and lymph nodes. Concentrations of PAM between 6 and 9 g/kg presented the strongest bioactivity compared to the control group or antibiotic-fed group. These findings indicate that PAM is effective in improving growth performance and cytokine response, which suggests that PAM can be used as a diet additive for weanling piglets.

Review: Chinese herbs as alternatives to antibiotics in feed for swine and poultry production: Potential and challenges in application

“…The ADFI, ADG and FE were increased by 0.5 to 11.88%, 8.14 to 34.32% and 3.27 to 26.01%, respectively, in response to doses of Chinese herbal polysaccharides as well as their origin (Yuan et al 2006;Li et al 2009aLi et al , 2011. Their effect in promoting pig growth performance better than antibiotics has also been reported.…”

“…immune responses and the proliferation of blood lymphocytes in weaned pigs (Kong et al 2007b, c;Lien et al 2007). Chinese herbal polysaccharides present an interesting example with an immuno-modulatory activity in a dose-dependent manner towards both cellular and humoral immune responses, including the ability to induce cell proliferation of innate and adaptive immune systems in pigs (Deng et al 2007;Li et al 2009aLi et al , 2011Kang et al 2010). Their potential mechanisms to achieve the effects mainly include: (1) elevating systemically circulated levels of immunogobins, such as immunoglobin (Ig) A, IgG and IgM; (2) inducing the proliferation activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes;…”

Effects of dietary Macleaya cordata extract on growth performance, immune responses, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal development in weaned piglets

“…The immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgM) protect the extravascular compartment against pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms (Kong et al 2007;Lauridsen 2010). Furthermore, IgG also has antibacterial and antitoxin effects (Li et al 2009). In the current study, piglets fed with MCE-containing diets increased the levels of serum IgG.…”

Low Dosage of Chitosan Supplementation Improves Intestinal Permeability and Impairs Barrier Function in Mice

“…Chitosan as a dietary supplement has been explored for its potential as an antimicrobial growth promoter and has been shown to promote growth in broiler chickens [12, 13] and pigs [14]. This could be ascribed to higher feed intake, serum growth hormone, and IGF-1 concentrations [15].…”