Effects of sugar cane extract on the modulation of immunity in pigs.
The experiment was aimed to test the efficacy of sugar cane extract (SCE) on the modulation of pig immunity under field conditions. The SCE preparation consisted of sugar cane extract (20%) and oilcake of rice bran (80%). SCE (500 mg/kg of body weight per day) was fed to weanling pigs on 3 consecutive days per week for 4 weeks. The results showed a significant enhancement of cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes, compared to untreated pigs. The enhancement of NK cell function may have protected against porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome (PRRS), as there was a reduction in seroconversion rates in treated pigs. Moreover, SCE-treated pigs showed a 7.87% growth enhancement compared with untreated controls. Thus SCE produces an immunostimulative effect on porcine innate immunity that may provide protection against pathogens.
Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Dan-Yuan
DY
Lo
Ter-Hsin
TH
Chen
Maw-Sheng
MS
Chien
Kenji
K
Koge
Akira
A
Hosono
Shuichi
S
Kaminogawa
Wei-Cheng
WC
Lee
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031786:Saccharum / Q000737:chemistry*; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*
D010936:Plant Extracts