title: Effects of dietary quillaja saponin and curcumin on the performance and immune status of weaned piglets.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary quillaja saponin and curcumin (extract of turmeric) can modify piglet immune status and performance immediately after weaning. Piglets (n = 192) were weaned at 29 +/- 0.1 d and allocated to treatment (six replicates of eight pig per treatment) accounting for weight, litter, and gender, using a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Factors were diets with or without (as-fed basis) quillaja saponin (750 mg/kg during wk 1, 300 mg/kg during wk 2 to 3) and with or without dietary curcumin (200 mg/kg). Diets were fed ad libitum for 20 d after weaning. Feed intake was measured daily. Piglets were weighed at weaning, d 7, 14, and 20 after weaning. On each of d 6 and 20 after weaning, eight pigs per treatment were sacrificed for blood and tissue collection. Treatment had no effect on piglet growth. The ADFI and G:F were similar for all treatments between d 0 and 14 of the trial. Between d 15 and 20, ADFI and G:F were lower in quillaja-supplemented piglets (ADFI = 621 vs. 572 g/d; G:F = 0.75 vs. 0.85; P < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA, interferon-gamma, and C-reactive protein (CRP) did not differ among treatments on d 6 after weaning. On d 20, IgG and CRP were greater (P < 0.05) in saponin-supplemented pigs (IgG = 17.5 vs. 11.4 mg/mL; CRP = 26.98 vs. 12.5 mg/mL). Small intestine villus and crypt measurements did not differ among treatments on either d 6 or 20. Saponin supplementation during the postweaning period seemed to potentiate an immune response in the weaned piglet but had a detrimental effect on the utilization of feed. Dietary curcumin had no influence on any measured aspect of pig performance or immune status.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, University of Leeds, UK. sian@ilsley50.freeserve.co.uk <sian@ilsley50.freeserve.co.uk>
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ilsley
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kamel
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D031990:Quillaja / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003474:Curcumin