Broad bean paste is a popular condiment in Asian countries. Leaves of
Linn. were used extensively in China during the koji-making of broad bean paste. Spreading
leaves on raw broad beans during ...fermentation was able to facilitate the rapid growth of fungi to form mature koji. We isolated two strains of fungi from mature koji, and four strains of bacteria from the rotten broad beans resulting from a failed attempt. According to microbial activity assays, two polymethoxylated flavones, 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxy flavone (HJ-1) and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,7,8,3'-pentamethoxy flavone (HJ-2) were isolated from
leaves, and the fungal growth promotion and inhibition of bacterial growth of these two compounds were found to improve the production of broad bean koji. This study reveals the compounds present in
leaves with bioactivity against important microbes in koji manufacture, and provides a theoretical basis for the application of
in broad bean paste production.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-protein (LP) diets supplemented with sodium butyrate (SB), medium-chain fatty acids (MCT), or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) on the ...growth performance, immune function, and the microbiome of weaned piglets. A total of 120 healthy weaned piglets ((Landrace × Large White × Duroc); 7.93 ± 0.7 kg initial body weight), were randomly divided into five groups. Each group consisted of six replications with four piglets per replication. Dietary treatments included control diet (CON); LP diet (LP); LP + 0.2% SB diet (LP + SB); LP + 0.2% MCT diet (LP + MCT); and LP + PUFA diet (LP + PUFA). The experimental period lasted for 4 weeks. Compared with the CON diet, LP, LP + SB, LP + MCT, and LP + PUFA diets decreased the final weight and average daily gain (ADG) of piglets (
< 0.05). There were lower (
< 0.05) concentrations of IL-8 and higher (
< 0.05) Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the plasma of piglets fed with LP + SB, LP + MCT, and LP + PUFA diets than those fed with the LP diet. The piglets in the LP + SB and LP + PUFA groups had lower IKK-alpha (
) mRNA expression in the colonic mucosa compared with those in the CON and LP groups (
< 0.05). The mRNA expression of
in the colonic mucosa of piglets in the LP + SB, LP + MCT, and LP + PUFA groups was decreased when compared with the CON and LP groups (
< 0.05). The LP + MCT diets increased the gene expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (
) in the colonic mucosa of piglets compared with CON, LP, and LP + SB diets (
< 0.05). The abundance of
in the colonic microbiome of piglets in the LP group was higher than that in the other four groups (
< 0.05). Collectively, this study showed that LP diets supplemented with SB, MCT, or n-3 PUFA reduced plasma inflammatory factor levels, increased plasma GSH-Px activity, and declined mRNA expression of
and
in the colonic epithelium, whereas it reduced the abundance of
in the colon of piglets.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a low-protein (LP) diet supplemented with sodium butyrate (SB), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on ...nutrient utilization and lipid and amino acid metabolism in weaned pigs. A total of 120 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire pigs (initial body weight: 7.93 ± 0.65 kg) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments, including the control diet (CON), LP diet, LP + 0.2% SB diet (LP + SB), LP + 0.2% MCFA diet (LP + MCFA) and LP + 0.2% n-3 PUFA diet (LP + PUFA). The results show that the LP + MCFA diet increased (
< 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter and total P in pigs compared with the CON and LP diets. In the liver of the pigs, the metabolites involved in sugar metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation significantly changed with the LP diet compared with the CON diet. Compared with the LP diet, the altered metabolites in the liver of the pigs fed with the LP + SB diet were mainly associated with sugar metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism; the altered metabolites in the liver of pigs fed with the LP + MCFA and LP + PUFA diets were mainly associated with lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. In addition, the LP + PUFA diet increased (
< 0.05) the concentration of glutamate dehydrogenase in the liver of pigs compared with the LP diet. Furthermore, the LP + MCFA and LP + PUFA diets increased (
< 0.05) the mRNA abundance of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the liver compared with the CON diet. The LP + PUFA diet increased (
< 0.05) mRNA abundances of fatty acid synthase in the liver compared with the CON and LP diets. Collectively, the LP diet supplemented with MCFAs improved nutrient digestibility, and the LP diet supplemented with MCFAs and n-3 PUFAs promoted lipid and amino acid metabolisms.
This study evaluated the effects of micro-encapsulated (protected) organic acids (OA) and essential oils (EO) combination, P(OA + EO), and effects of a regular blend of free acids (FA) on the growth, ...immune responses, intestinal barrier and microbiota of weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) F4 (K88+). A total of 30 crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) weaned barrows (7.41 ± 0.06 kg, 28 d old) were assigned randomly to 5 treatments: 1) non-challenged positive control (PC), 2) ETEC F4 (K88+)-challenged negative control (NC), 3) NC + kitasamycin at 50 mg/kg + olaquindox at 100 mg/kg + free acidifier (FA) at 5 g/kg, 4) NC + kitasamycin at 50 mg/kg + olaquindox at 100 mg/kg + P(OA + EO) at 1 g/kg (P1), 5) NC + kitasamycin at 50 mg/kg + olaquindox at 100 mg/kg + P(OA + EO) at 2 g/kg (P2). Each dietary treatment had 6 replicates of one piglet each and the study lasted for 3 wk. On d 7, pigs in NC, FA, P1 and P2 were orally dosed with 10 mL of ETEC F4 (K88+) culture (1 × 109 CFU/mL). From d 7 to 14 after the ETEC F4 (K88+) challenge, P1 increased gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) significantly (P < 0.05) compared with NC and FA groups. From d 14 to 21, P2 increased the average daily gain of pigs (P < 0.05) compared with NC and FA groups. Compared with NC, P2 reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 concentrations (P < 0.05) in sera collected at 4 h later after ETEC F4 (K88+) challenge. On d 21, P1 increased occludin and zonula occludens-1 protein expression in ileum compared with NC (P < 0.05). After this 3-wk experiment, alpha diversity of gut microbiota was decreased by P2 compared with PC, and P1 increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus in ileum, cecum and colon (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary P(OA + EO) additive at 2 g/kg combined with antibiotics could improve piglet performance and attenuate inflammation, and P(OA + EO) additive at 1 g/kg combined with antibiotics improved intestinal barrier and increased beneficial microbiota composition after an F4 (K88+) challenge.
The aim of the study was to investigate the comparative effects of different combinations of sodium butyrate (SB), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 ...PUFAs) on the reproductive performances of sows, as well as on the biochemical parameters, oxidative statuses, and intestinal health of the sucking piglets. A total of 30 sows were randomly allocated to five treatments: (1) control diet (CON); (2) CON with 1 g/kg of coated SB and 7.75 g/kg of coated MCFAs (SM); (3) CON with 1 g/kg of coated SB and 68.2 g/kg of coated n-3 PUFAs (SP); (4) CON with 7.75 g/kg of coated MCFAs and 68.2 g/kg of coated n-3 PUFAs (MP); (5) CON with 1 g/kg of coated SB, 7.75 g/kg of coated MCFAs and 68.2 g/kg of coated n-3 PUFA (SMP). The results showed that sows fed the SP, MP, and SMP diets had shorter weaning-to-estrus intervals than those fed the CON diet (
< 0.01). The piglets in the SM, SP, and MP groups showed higher increases in the plasma catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities than those of the CON group (
< 0.01). The diarrhea incidence of piglets in the SM, SP and SMP groups was lower than that of piglets in the CON group (
< 0.01). Additionally, the addition of SM, SP, MP, and SMP to the sow diets increased the contents of immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, fat, and proteins in the colostrum (
< 0.01), as well as the plasma total superoxide dismutase activities (
< 0.01) in the suckling piglets, whereas it decreased the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and toll-like receptor 4 in the jejunum mucosa of the piglets. The relative abundances of
,
, and
in the colonic digesta of the piglets were increased in the SM group (
< 0.05), and the relative abundances of
increased in the SMP group (
< 0.05), compared with the CON group. The relative abundances of
,
, and
in the MP group were higher than those in the CON group (
< 0.05). Collectively, dietary combinations of fatty acids with different chain lengths have positive effects on the growth performances and intestinal health of suckling piglets.
Zinc oxide (ZnO) harms the environment and can potentially increase the number of drug-resistant bacteria. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find safe and effective alternatives to improve gut ...health and reduce the incidence of diarrhea in weaned piglets. This study conducted an antibacterial test of ZnO, antibacterial peptides (AMPs), and tannic acid (TA) in vitro. Thirty piglets were randomly allotted to one of the following three dietary treatments: ZnO (2000 mg/kg ZnO diet), AMPs (700 mg/kg AMPs diet), and TA (1000 mg/kg TA diet). The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations of ZnO and TA against Escherichia coli and Salmonella were lower than those of AMPs, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of ZnO, AMPs, and TA against Staphylococcus aureus were the same. Compared to ZnO, AMPs increased the digestibility of dry, organic matter and the crude fat. Additionally, TA significantly (p < 0.05) increased the digestibility of dry and organic matter. On experimental day 14, the plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) content of piglets supplemented with AMPs and TA was increased significantly (p < 0.05). On experimental day 28, alanine aminotransferase activity in the plasma of weaned piglets in the ZnO and TA groups was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in piglets in the AMPs group. The levels of plasma IL-6 and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the ZnO and AMPs groups than in the TA group. On experimental days 14 and 28, no significant differences were observed in the antioxidant capacity among the three experimental groups. Intestinal microbial diversity analysis showed that the Chao1 and ACE indices of piglets in the AMPs group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in the ZnO and TA groups. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Treponema_2 was higher in the feces of piglets fed a diet supplemented with TA than in those fed diet supplemented with ZnO (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae was higher in the feces of piglets fed a diet supplemented with AMPs than in those fed diet supplemented with ZnO or TA. Overall, AMPs and TA could be added to feed as substitutes for ZnO to reduce diarrhea, improve nutrient digestibility and immunity, and increase the abundance of beneficial intestinal bacteria in weaned piglets.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-protein (LP) diets supplemented with sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) and glucose (GLUC) on metabolic markers and intestinal microbiota of ...finishing pigs. A total of 80 crossbred growing barrows were allocated randomly to one of the five treatments, including the normal protein level diet (CON), the LP diets, LP with 120 mg/kg DCA (LP + DCA) or 1.8% glucose (LP + GLUC), and LP with 120 mg/kg DCA and 1.8% glucose (LP + DCA + GLUC). The LP diet increased the plasma HDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol concentrations and reduced the bile acid, urea nitrogen, albumin, and total protein concentrations compared to the CON diet (p < 0.05). The LP + DCA + GLUC diet reduced the plasma VLDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol concentrations and increased the bile acid concentration compared with the LP diet (p < 0.05). Pigs fed the LP + DCA and LP + GLUC diets showed reduced 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase content and increased Cytochrome P450 Family 7 Subfamily A Member 1 activity of liver compared that of the CON diet (p < 0.05). Moreover, the LP diets with or without DCA and GLUC supplementation increased the relative abundance of colonic microbiota related to carbohydrate fermentation in finishing pigs. In conclusion, 120 mg/kg DCA or 1.8% GLUC supplementation in an LP diet modulated the hepatic lipid metabolism of pigs, while the DCA along with GLUC supplementation likely improved the lipid metabolism by stimulating bile acid secretion.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an enzyme cofactor, co-substrate, and redox factor in all living cells and is necessary for maintaining cell metabolism. It has been shown that appropriate ...supplementation of NAD+ precursors or inhibition of NAD+-depleting enzymes can promote mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and improve host energy utilization efficiency. In addition, increasing evidence indicates that the gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in host metabolism. Theoretically, there should be a close correlation among NAD+, gut microbiota, and host metabolism; however, the information is limited. In this review, we summarize the metabolic process of NAD+ and its impact on host metabolism, the link between gut microbiota and host metabolism, as well as the potential effects of NAD+ on microbial metabolism, providing a new perspective on the interaction between gut microbiota and host metabolism.
It was assumed that dietary inclusion of
SL001 isolated from the gastric contents of rabbits could act as an alternative to feed antibiotics to improve the growth performance of broiler chickens. We ...randomly assigned 360 one-day-old AA white-feathered chicks in three treatments: basal diet (control), basal diet plus zinc bacitracin (antibiotic), and basal diet plus
SL001 (SL001) treatment. The results showed the total BW gain and average daily gain (ADG) of broilers in SL001 treatment increased significantly (
< 0.05, respectively) compared with the control group from day 0 to 42. Moreover, we observed higher levels of immune globulins in both the SL001 group and the antibiotic group. Total antioxidant capacity and levels of antioxidant factors were also significantly increased (
≤ 0.05, respectively) in the SL001 treatment group, while the interleukin 6, interleukin 4, creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL, LDL and malondialdehyde were remarkably decreased (
< 0.05, respectively). In the ileum of SL001 treatment broilers, the height of villi and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth were significantly increased (
< 0.05). Meanwhile, the crypt depth reduced (
< 0.01) and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth increased (
< 0.05) in the jejunum compared to the control. The abundance of microbiota increased in the gut of broilers supplemented with SL001. Dietary SL001 significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in the cecal contents of broilers (
< 0.01) at the phylum level. In conclusion,
SL001 supplementation promotes the growth performance of broiler chickens and exhibits the potential application value in the industry of broiler feeding.
Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) is a globally significant threat to the swine industry. Historically, antibiotics as well as high doses of zinc oxide and copper sulfate have been commonly used to control ...PWD. However, the development of bacterial resistance and environmental pollution have created an interest in alternative strategies. In recent years, the research surrounding these alternative strategies and the mechanisms of piglet diarrhea has been continually updated. Mechanically, diarrhea in piglets is a result of an imbalance in intestinal fluid and electrolyte absorption and secretion. In general, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and diarrheal viruses are known to cause an imbalance in the absorption and secretion of intestinal fluids and electrolytes in piglets, resulting in diarrhea when Cl− secretion-driven fluid secretion surpasses absorptive capacity. From a perspective of feedstuffs, factors that contribute to imbalances in fluid absorption and secretion in the intestines of weaned piglets include high levels of crude protein (CP), stimulation by certain antigenic proteins, high acid-binding capacity (ABC), and contamination with deoxynivalenol (DON) in the diet. In response, efforts to reduce CP levels in diets, select feedstuffs with lower ABC values, and process feedstuffs using physical, chemical, and biological approaches are important strategies for alleviating PWD in piglets. Additionally, the diet supplementation with additives such as vitamins and natural products can also play a role in reducing the diarrhea incidence in weaned piglets. Here, we examine the mechanisms of absorption and secretion of intestinal fluids and electrolytes in piglets, summarize nutritional strategies to control PWD in piglets from the perspective of feeds, and provide new insights towards future research directions.
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