Natural capsicum extract replacing chlortetracycline enhances performance via improving digestive enzyme activities,antioxidant capacity,anti-inflammatory function,and gut health in weaned pigs

摘要

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of natural capsicum extract(NCE,containing 2%natural capsaicin,the rest is carrier)replacing chlortetracycline(CTC)on performance,digestive enzyme activities,antioxidant capacity,inflammatory cytokines,and gut health in weaned pigs.A total of 108 weaned pigs(Duroc×[Landrace×Yorkshire],initial body weight-8.68±1.34 kg;weaned on d 28)were randomly allotted into 3 treatments with 6 replicate pens per treatment(3 barrows and 3 gilts per pen).The treatments include a corn-soybean meal basal diet as a control group(CON),a CTC group(basal diet+CTC at 75 mg/kg),and a NCE group(basal diet--NEC at 80 mg/kg).Compared with CON and CTC,NCE had increased(P<0.05)average daily gain in phase 2(d 15 to 28)and overall(d 1 to 28),and higher(P<0.05)apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy,dry matter,crude protein,and organic matter in phase 1(d 1 to 14).These pigs also had increased(P<0.05)pancrelipase activity in pancreas,α-amylase,lipase and protease activities in the jejunal mucosa,and lipase activity in the ileal mucosa on d 28.Moreover,NCE had increased(P<0.05)the contents of growth hormone,β-endorphin,5-hydroxytryptamine,total antioxidant capacity,total superoxide dismutase,catalase,and IL-10,as well as decreased(P<0.05)contents of malondialdehyde,tumor nuclear factor-a,interferon-y,and interleukin-6 in serum on d 28 compared with CON and CTC.NCE showed higher(P<0.05)propionic acid,butyric acid and total volatile fatty acids(VFA)contents,and increased(P<0.05)relative abundance of Faecalibacterium in colon,as well as higher(P<0.05)propionic acid and total volatile fatty acids in cecum on d 28 compared with CON.In conclusion,NCE replacing CTC could enhance performance via improving digestive enzyme activities,antioxidant capacity,anti-inflammatory function,gut VFA composition and microbiota community in weaned pigs,and it could be used as a potential target for the development of feed additives.