Influence of feed supplementation with Tropaeolum majus L. on growth performance and urine isothiocyanate concentration of piglets

Abstract

Tropaeolum majus L. is a herb with antimicrobial activity in humans, caused by the degradation product benzyl-isothiocyanate derived from enzymatic cleavage of glucotropaeolin. Piglets were fed diets with a graded supplementation of Tropaeolum majus for five weeks. Tropaeolum majus was supplemented at an upper dosage level of 1 g/kg with the feed, equaling 48.7 mg/kg glucotropaeolin, which resulted in a benzyl-isothiocyanate concentration in the urine of up to 2.4 mg/L, which is high enough to control a broad range of bacteria. On average 3.1 - 7.3% of the glucotropaeolin taken up by the animals was excreted as bioactive benzyl-isothiocyanate. Supplementation of the feed with Tropaeolum majus had no effect on growth performance of piglets.