[en] BACKGROUND AND AIM: Alternative natural materials to antibiotics for improving digestive health and growth performance are needed due to strengthening regulations related to the use of antibiotic growth promoters. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of medicinal plants mixture (60% Bidens pilosa L., 15% Urena lobata L., 15% Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, 5% Ramulus cinnamomi, and 5% Star anise) as alternative growth promotors on animal health, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, and growth performance of growing pigs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted, from April 2020 to June 2020, at a private pig production farm located in Cam Giang district Hai Duong Province, Vietnam. Forty-eight 10-week-old crossbred (♂Duroc×♀ [Landrace×Yorkshire]) pigs, average initial body weight 30.3±1.42 kg, were randomly allocated to four dietary groups, three replicate pens per experimental group, with 4 pigs/pen. For 7 weeks, the pigs were fed a basal diet supplemented with the mixture at levels of 0, 20, 40, and 60 g/kg of feed.
RESULTS: Final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, as well as apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, and gross energy were not significantly influenced by the diets (p>0.05). Inclusion of the plant mixture decreased significantly red blood cell count, blood cholesterol, urea nitrogen, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations (p<0.05) compared with the control diet. No diet effect was observed on fecal Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Clostridium spp., and total bacteria counts.
CONCLUSION: The incorporation of the plant mixture into the diet of growing pigs reduced serum cholesterol, LDL, and urea concentrations with no adverse effect on performance and nutrient digestibility.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Oanh, Nguyen Cong ; Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Faculty of Animal Science, Ngo Xuan Quang Street, Trauquy, Gia Lam, 100000 Hanoi, Vietnam ; University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH Center, Department of Veterinary Management of Animal Resources, Quartier vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 6, B43a, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Lam, Truong Quang ; Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Key Laboratory for Veterinary Biotechnology, Ngo Xuan Quang Street, Trauquy, Gia Lam, 100000 Hanoi, Vietnam
Tien, Nguyen Dinh ; Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Faculty of Animal Science, Ngo Xuan Quang Street, Trauquy, Gia Lam, 100000 Hanoi, Vietnam
Hornick, Jean-Luc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Productions animales durables ; Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Faculty of Animal Science, Ngo Xuan Quang Street, Trauquy, Gia Lam, 100000 Hanoi, Vietnam
Ton, Vu Dinh ; Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Faculty of Animal Science, Ngo Xuan Quang Street, Trauquy, Gia Lam, 100000 Hanoi, Vietnam
Language :
English
Title :
Effects of medicinal plants mixture on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fecal microbiota in growing pigs.
University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
Funding text :
We would like to thank the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Central Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Science; Key Laboratory for Veterinary Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture for the supports. We also thank ARES-CCD (Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur, fédéra-tion des établissements d’enseignement supérieur de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Belgique) and Department of Sciences and Technology, Hai Duong province, Vietnam, for financial support for the study (Grant no.T2020-02-04VB and NN.15.HVNN.20-21).We would like to thank the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Central Laboratory, Faculty of Animal Science; Key Laboratory for Veterinary Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture for the supports. We also thank ARES-CCD (Acad mie de Recherche et d'Enseignement Sup rieur, f d ration des tablissements d'enseignement sup rieur de la F d ration Wallonie-Bruxelles, Belgique) and Department of Sciences and Technology, Hai Duong province, Vietnam, for financial support for the study (Grant no.T2020-02-04VB and NN.15.HVNN.20-21).
Suthathip, T., Sunpetch, A. and Rungtip, C. (2016) Occurrence and molecular characteristics of antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli from broilers, pigs and meat products in Thailand and Cambodia Provinces. Microbiol. Immunol., 60(9): 575-585.
Hashemi, S.R. and Davoodi, H. (2011) Herbal plants and their derivatives as growth and health promoters in animal nutrition. Vet. Res. Commun., 35(3): 169-180.
Kumar, A.K. (2018) Effect of Sargassum wightii on growth, carcass and serum qualities of broiler chickens. Open Access J. Vet. Sci. Res., 3(2 ): 1-10.
Omonkhua, A.A. and Onoagbe, I.O. (2011) Evaluation of the long term effects of Urena lobata root extracts on blood glucose and hepatic function of normal rabbits. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci., 3(8): 204-213.
Rehman, Z. and Munir, M.T. (2015) Effect of garlic on the health and performance of broilers. Veterinaria, 3(1): 32-39.
Lei, X.J., Yun, H.M. and Kim, I.H. (2018) Effects of dietary supplementation of natural and fermented herbs on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood parameters, meat quality and fatty acid composition in growing-finishing pigs. Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 17(4): 984-993.
Namkung, H., Li, J., Gong, M., Yu, H., Cottrill, M. and de Lange, C.F.M. (2004) Impact of feeding blends of organic acids and herbal extracts on growth performance, gut microbiota and digestive function in newly weaned pigs. Can. J. Anim. Sci., 84: 697-704.
Matysiak, B., Jacyno, E., Kawecka, M., Kołodziej-Skalska, A. and Pietruszka, A. (2012) The effect of plant extracts fed before farrowing and during lactation on sow and piglet performance. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci., 42(1): 15-21.
Alikwe, P.C.N., Ohimain, E.I. and Omotosho, S.M. (2014) Evaluation of the proximate, mineral, phytochemical, and amino acid composition of Bidens pilosa as potential feed/feed additive for non-ruminant livestock. Anim. Vet. Sci., 2(2): 18-21.
Bernard, D., Kwabena, A.I., Osei, O.D., Daniel, G.A., Elom, S.A. and Sandra, A. (2014) The effect of different drying methods on the phytochemicals and radical scavenging activity of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) plant parts. Eur. J. Med. Plants, 4(11): 1324-1335.
Ho, T.C. and Chun, B.S. (2019) Extraction of bioactive compounds from Pseuderanthemum palatiferum (Nees) Radlk. Using subcritical water and conventional solvents: A comparison study. J. Food Sci., 84(5): 1201-1207.
Patra, J.K., Das, G., Bose, S., Banerjee, S., Chethala, N.V., Rodríguez-Torres, M.D.P. and Shin, H. (2020) Star anise (Illicium verum): Chemical compounds, antiviral properties, and clinical relevance. Phytother. Res., 34(6): 1248-1267.
National Academies Press. (1989) Recommended Dietary Allowances. 10th ed. National Academies Press, US, Washington, DC.
Babu, S.S., Madhuri, D.B. and Ali, S.L. (2016) A pharmacological review of Urena lobata plant. Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res., 9(2): 20-22.
Liu, J., Zhang, Q., Li, R.L., Wei, S.J., Huang, C.Y., Gao, Y.X. and Pu, X.F. (2020) The traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Cinnamomi ramulus: A review. J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 72(3): 319-342.
Nguyen, Q.V. and Eun, J.B. (2011) Antioxidant activity of solvent extracts from Vietnamese medicinal plants. J. Med. Plants Res., 5(13): 2798-2811.
Xuan, T.D. and Khanh, T.D. (2016) Chemistry and pharmacology of Bidens pilosa: An overview. J. Pharm. Investig., 46(2): 91-132.
Vuong, P.V. (2014) Study on the Chemical Constituents and Bioactive Compounds of Bidens pilosa L. Doctoral Thesis. Institute of Medicinal Materials, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Rojas, J.J., Ochoa, V.J., Ocampo, S.A. and Muñoz, J.F. (2006) Screening for antimicrobial activity of ten medicinal plants used in Colombian folkloric medicine: A possible alternative in the treatment of non-nosocomial infections. BMC Complement. Altern. Med., 6(2): 1-6.
Dieu, H.K., Loc, C.B., Yamasaki, S. and Hirata, Y. (2006) The effects of Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, a new medicinal plant, on growth performances and diarrhea of piglets. Jpn. Agric. Res. Q., 40(1): 85-91.
Shahrajabian, M.H., Sun, W. and Cheng, Q. (2020) Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) and pyrethrum (Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium) as natural alternatives for organic farming and health care a review. Aust. J. Crop Sci., 14(3): 517-523.
Tian, L., Huang, H., Ye, X., Li, N., Zou, T., Zhou, A. and Liu, Y. (2012) Anti-influenza virus activity and chemical composition of Ramulus cinnamomi-Ramulus zingiber recens, a Chinese herb pair. Chin. J. Hosp. Pharm., 2012: 14.
Charal, J.W., Bidner, T.D., Southern, L.L. and Lavergne, T.A. (2016) Effect of anise oil fed to lactating sows and nursery pigs on sow feed intake, piglet performance, and weanling pig feed intake and growth performance. Prof. Anim. Sci., 32(1): 99-105.
Noblet, J. and Perez, J.M. (1993) Prediction of digestibility of nutrients and energy values of pig diets from chemical analysis. J. Anim. Sci., 71(12): 3389-3398.
National Academies Press. (2012) Nutrient Requirements of Swine. National Academies Press, Washington, DC, USA.
Serena, A., Jørgensen, H. and Knudsen, K.E.B. (2008) Digestion of carbohydrates and utilization of energy in sows fed diets with contrasting levels and physicochemical properties of dietary fiber. J. Anim. Sci., 86(9): 2208-2216.
Association of Official Analytical Chemists. (1990) Official Methods of Analysis. 15th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA, USA.
Williams, C.H., David, D.J. and Iismaa, O. (1962) The determination of chromic oxide in faeces samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. J. Agric. Sci., 59(3): 381-385.
Widmer, M.R., McGinnis, L.M., Wulf, D.M. and Stein, H.H. (2008) Effects of feeding distillers dried grains with solubles, high-protein distillers dried grains, and corn germ to growing-finishing pigs on pig performance, carcass quality, and the palatability of pork. J. Anim. Sci., 86(8): 1819-1831.
Hanczakowska, E., Swiatkiewicz, M. and Grela, E.R. (2015) Effect of dietary inclusion of a herbal extract mixture and different oils on pig performance and meat quality. Meat Sci., 108: 61-66.
Ahmed, S.T., Mun, H.S., Islam, M.M., Ko, S.Y. and Yang, C.J. (2016) Effects of dietary natural and fermented herb combination on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality in grower-finisher pigs. Meat Sci., 122: 7-15.
Utiyama, C.E., Oetting, L.L., Giani, P.A., dos Santos Ruiz, U. and Miyada, V.S. (2006) Effect of antimicrobials, prebiotics, probiotics and herbal extracts on intestinal microbiology, diarrhea incidence and performance of weanling pigs. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 35(6 ): 2359-2367.
Yan, L., Meng, Q.W. and Kim, I.H. (2011) The effect of an herb extract mixture on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood characteristics and fecal noxious gas content in growing pigs. Livest. Sci., 141(2-3): 143-147.
Marcin, A., Lauková, A. and Mati, R. (2006) Comparison of the effects of Enterococcus faecium and aromatic oils from sage and oregano on growth performance and diarrhoeal diseases of weaned pigs. Biologia (Bratisl), 61(6): 789-795.
Hashemi, S.R. and Davoodi, H. (2010) Phytogenics as a new class of feed additive in poultry industry. J. Anim. Vet. Adv., 9(17): 2295-2304.
Wenk, C. (2003) Herbs and botanicals as feed additives in monogastric animals. Asian Australas. J. Anim. Sci., 16(2): 282-289.
Ao, X., Lei, Y. and Kim, I.H. (2020) Effect of flavor supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and carcass quality in growing-finishing pigs. Can. J. Anim. Sci., 100(1): 133-139.
Jeong, J.S. and Kim, I.H. (2015) Effect of probiotic bacteria-fermented medicinal plants (Gynura procumbens, Rehmannia glutinosa, Scutellaria baicalensis) as performance enhancers in growing pigs. Anim. Sci. J., 86(6): 603-609.
Yan, L. and Kim, I.H. (2013) Effects of dietary supplementation of fermented garlic powder on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility, blood characteristics and faecal microbial concentration in weanling pigs. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr., 97(3): 457-464.
Olufemi, B.E., Assiak, I.E., Ayoadi, G.O. and Onigemo, M.A. (2003) Studies on effects of Amaranthus spinosus leaf extract on the haematology of growing pigs. Afr. J. Biomed. Res., 6(3): 54045.
Clark, S.G. and Coffer, N. (2008) Normal hematology and hematologic disorders in potbellied pigs. Vet. Clin. North Am. Exot. Anim. Pract., 11(3): 569-582.
Thorn, C.E. (2010) Hematology of the pig. In: Shalm's Veterinary Hematology. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, New Jersey. p843-851.
Agarwal, V.K. (2012) Bioactive constituents of medicinal plants. In: The Modern Ayurveda: Milestones Beyond the Classical Age. CRC Press, New York. p204-205.
Bok, S.H., Lee, S.H., Park, Y.B., Bae, K.H., Son, K.H., Jeong, T.S. and Choi, M.S. (1999) Plasma and hepatic cholesterol and hepatic activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase and Acyl CoA: Cholesterol transferase is lower in rats fed citrus peel extract or a mixture of citrus bioflavonoids. J. Nutr., 129(6): 1182-1185.
Arabski, M., Wegierek-Ciuk, A., Czerwonka, G., Lankoff, A. and Kaca, W. (2012) Effects of saponins against clinical E. coli strains and eukaryotic cell line. J. Biomed. Biotechnol., 2012.