Effect of the Single and Combined Use of Curcumin and Piperine on Growth Performance, Intestinal Barrier Function, and Antioxidant Capacity of Weaned Wuzhishan Piglets.

Liguang Shi,Weiqi Peng,Guanyu Hou,Ting Cao,Haichao Hu,Wenjuan Xun

doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00418

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of the single and combined use of curcumin (CUR) and piperine (PIP) on performance, intestinal barrier function, and antioxidant capacity of weaned piglets. A total of 50 Wuzhishan piglets weaned at 35 days of age were randomly assigned to five groups receiving a corn–soybean basal diet (CON), the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg piperine, 200 mg/kg curcumin (low-CUR), 200 mg/kg curcumin + 50 mg/kg piperine (PIP + CUR), and 300 mg/kg curcumin (high-CUR), respectively. The results showed that the feed/gain ratio (F/G) and plasma d-lactate and diamine oxidase activity (DAO) of the CUR + PIP and high-CUR groups were lower than those of the CON group (all P < 0.05), while the jejunum and ileum villus height, the villus height/crypt depth ratio, and the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of occludin, claudin-1, and zonula occluden-1 in jejunal and ileal mucosa were higher in the CUR + PIP and high-CUR groups than in the CON group (all P < 0.05). Moreover, the piglets in the CUR + PIP and high-CUR groups had higher serum and intestinal mucosa activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and lower malonaldehyde concentration than piglets in the CON group (all P < 0.05). The above parameters were not significantly different between the CUR + PIP and high-CUR groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the combination of CUR and PIP seemed to be as advantageous as high-CUR to piglets, but it was more effective than the single use of CUR and PIP. These data indicated that the basal diet supplemented with CUR + PIP or high-CUR could improve the intestinal permeability and suppress oxidative stress of weaned Wuzhishan piglets.

Highlights

After weaning, piglets often suffer from intestinal barrier dysfunction, which contributes to severe diarrhea and decreased performance in piglets [1,2,3]
Our previous experiments have shown that a basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg CUR could improve the integrity and morphology of the intestinal mucosal barrier as well as the immunity of weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli [23]
3.49 5.57 98.87 185.83 1.89g aCON: a corn–soybean basal diet; PIP, low-CUR, PIP + CUR and high-CUR, the basal diet supplemented with 50 mg/kg piperine, 200 mg/kg curcumin, 200 mg/kg curcumin + 50 mg/kg piperine, and 300 mg/kg curcumin, respectively. bSEM, standard error of the mean (n = 10). cADG, average daily body weight gain. dADFI, average daily feed intake. eF/G, the ratio of feed to gain. fgmeans in the same row with different letters differ significantly (P < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Piglets often suffer from intestinal barrier dysfunction, which contributes to severe diarrhea and decreased performance in piglets [1,2,3]. Antibiotics have been widely used as animal feed additives for many years because of their efficiency in increasing the growth rate, improving feed utilization, and reducing mortality [4]. Their continuous use may lead to the Additives for Weaned Pigs emergence of drug resistance and antibiotic residues in poultry products [5], harming human health and the environment [6]. An active natural polyphenol derived from the curry spice turmeric, has been widely used as medicine, dietary additives, and coloring agents [11]. Our previous experiments have shown that a basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg CUR could improve the integrity and morphology of the intestinal mucosal barrier as well as the immunity of weaned pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli [23]

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion