Abstract Sophorolipid (SPL) is a glycolipid bio-surfactant produced by Candida bombicola and displays antimicrobial activity and stimulates collagenesis with less toxic and more biodegradable than other surfactants. As its effect has not been demonstrated in weaning animal models, we conducted two experiments to investigate the effect of SPL on intestinal restoration. First, a wound healing assay using HT-29 cells was conducted to quantify migration capacity. Cells were seeded into 6-well plate and scratched. After 24- and 48-hour incubation, SPL increased migration of cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). It seemed that SPL had restorative effects on intestinal wounds. Afterwards, an in vivo experiment was conducted using thirty 2-week-old early-weaned rats, which were randomly allotted into three treatments (CON; NIH-31 diet, BAM; 32 ppm of bambermycin and SPL; 10 ppm of SPL). During 16 days of trial, rats fed ad libitum and body weights were measured every four days. Rat were sacrificed at days 8 and 16 to collect jejunum to investigate morphological changes and cecal contents to determine microbial population. The data were analyzed using ANOVA procedures of SAS 9.4. The means were compared by Duncan’s multi-range test at P < 0.05 level of significance. Rats in SPL were heavier than those in CON by 15.1 % at day 16. Jejunal villus height in SPL was highest among treatments at day 8, and it was also significantly lengthened in SPL than other treatments at day 16 (P < 0.05). Cecal populations of E. coli, Streptococcus spp. and Salmonella spp. were significantly reduced by 64.7 %, 67.2 % and 40.0 % in SPL, respectively, relative to CON at day 16 (P < 0.05). Collectively, SPL accelerated growth by improving intestinal restoration and modulating microbiota population. SPL might have a potential as a feed additive to reduce early-weaning stress of livestock animals.
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