Effects of Activated Charcoal-Herb Extractum Complex on Antioxidant Status, Lipid Metabolites and Safety of Excess Supplementation in Weaned Piglets

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Weaning is the most significant event in the life of pigs and pigs must cope with the sudden disruption of social interaction with sows and litters and pressure to adapt to new environments that may impair the growth performance and health status of piglets. Weaning can induce oxidative stress and disturb the balance of lipid metabolism in pigs. In this study, we innovatively evaluated a complex of activated charcoal and Chinese herb extractum (CHC) in weaning pigs on antioxidant status, serum lipid metabolites and safety supplementation in weaning pigs. This complex combines functions of active charcoal in absorption of toxins and the Chinese medicinal herbs in antioxidant capacity. The results demonstrated a promising additive of this complex CHC in future applications. This complex may be a good nutritional supplement to use in swine production. ABSTRACT: This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of activated charcoal-herb extractum complex (CHC) on antioxidant status, serum lipid metabolites and its safety supplement in weaning piglets. In experiment 1, a total of 216 piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) weaned at 28 days of age with initial body weight of 8.55 ± 1.18 kg were assigned randomly to six treatment groups. each treatment group had six pens, with six pigs per pen. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 500, 1000, 1500 or 2000 mg kg(−1) of CHC over two 14-d periods. Diets supplemented with 0 and 1000 mg kg(−1) of montmorillonite (MMT) were set as the negative and positive controls, respectively. In experiment 2, pigs (n = 108) weaned at 28 days of age with initial body weight of 8.58 ± 0.04 kg were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Each treatment group had six pens, with six pigs per pen. Pigs were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 1000 or 10,000 mg kg(−1) of CHC over two 14-d periods. In experiment 1, on day 14, supplementation with CHC significantly decreased very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentration while they decreased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration on d 28, CHC at 500, 1000 or 1500 mg kg(−1) significantly increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration. Supplementation with 500 or 1000 mg kg(−1) CHC reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration during the entire experimental period and increased the concentration of serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) on d 14. CHC at 500 or 1000 mg kg(−1) significantly reduced the liver MDA concentration and increased liver T-SOD concentration. In experiment 2, increased ADG was obvious during the first 14 days and the whole period in 1000 mg kg(−1) supplemented pigs, similarly F: G was lowest in the first 14 days. There was no difference in growth performance, visceral index, haematological and serum biochemical parameters and visceral organs morphology between pigs fed 10,000 mg kg(−1) of CHC and control. Together, 500 to 1000 mg kg(−1) CHC was confirmed to improve antioxidant status, and serum lipid metabolites in this study and excess supplementation of CHC is safe in weaning piglets.