Effects of dietary supplementation with saccharicterpenin alleviates diarrhea of piglets

Abstract

A total of 60 weaned pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with BW of 7.35 ± 0.12 kg were used in a 35-d trial to explore the effects of saccharicterpenin on gut characteristics in piglets. Piglets were randomly allotted by sex to two groups: (i) basal diet, control group, (ii) C + 500 mg/kg saccharicterpenin, SHP group. Compared with the control group, piglets fed diet saccharicterpenin decreased the diarrhea index (P < 0.05), reduced the pH values of the digesta (P < 0.05), increased the villus height in the jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05), and enhanced the activities of trypsin, lipase, and amylase in the jejunum of piglets. Similarly, compared with the control group, piglets fed diet saccharicterpenin had higher counts for Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp in digesta of cecum (P < 0.05). Finally, piglets fed diet saccharicterpenin upregulated zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), occludin, Sodium-glucose co-transporter-1 (SGLT-1), Mucin 1 (MUC1) and Mucin 2 (MUC2) in the jejunal mucosa of piglets (P < 0.05). In conclusion, piglets fed diet saccharicterpenin could promote gut health through reduce reduced the pH values of the digesta, improve the digestive enzyme activities and gut microbiota, maintain the Intestinal morphology, and regulate intestinal barrier-related genes.