Effects of Echinacea purpurea extract (E.E.) on growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, and gut microbiota in Bamei ternary pigs
This experiment aimed to study the effects of Echinacea purpurea extract (E.E.) on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, serum immunity, intestinal flora, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in Bamei ternary pigs. Forty-eight 50-day-old Bamei ternary pigs were selected and randomly divided into a control group (CON), a low-dose group (T1, 5g/kg), a medium-dose group (T2, 10g/kg), and a high-dose group (T3, 15g/kg) according to the treatments and fed for 42 days. They were weighed on an empty stomach in the mornings of the first and last days, and their daily feed intake was recorded during the trial. E.E. significantly increased the ADFI and ADG (P<0.05). The levels of HGB, TP, TC, and TG were significantly increased (P<0.05). The CAT level was significantly increased, and the MDA levels were significantly decreased in the test group (P<0.05). The GSH levels were significantly increased in T2 and T3 groups (P<0.05). The levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, and IL-10 were significantly increased, while IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-a levels were significantly decreased in the test group (P<0.05). The results of intestinal flora analysis indicated that the addition of E.E. to the basal diet significantly altered the intestinal flora abundance, and Echinacea extract increased the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Bacteroidota, AlloPrevotella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Subdoligranulum (P<0.05). E.E. significantly increased the contents of acetic acid, butyric acid, and valeric acid in the SCFAs of Bamei ternary pigs (P<0.05). Correlation analysis found that UCG-002 was significantly positively correlated with SOD, GSH, and IgG (P>0.05), and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group was positively correlated with IL-10 and valeric acid. Acetic acid and butyric acid showed a significant positive correlation (P>0.05). E.E. is able to alleviate oxidative stress, improve immunity, increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria, and increase the content of SCFAs, thus promoting the growth performance of Bamei ternary pigs.