The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88

It has been found that thymol (Thy) and rosmarinic acid (Ros-A) improve the growth performance of piglets and relieve intestinal inflammation in animals. The effects of Thy and Ros-A separately or in combination (Thy × Ros-A) on the intestinal function and health of piglets challenged with Escherich...

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Main Authors: Runlin Li, Xuedong Ding, Mingkang Lei, Panpan Li, Ilias Giannenas, Jing Wang, Weiyun Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-03-01
Series:Animal Nutrition
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654524001665
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author Runlin Li
Xuedong Ding
Mingkang Lei
Panpan Li
Ilias Giannenas
Jing Wang
Weiyun Zhu
author_facet Runlin Li
Xuedong Ding
Mingkang Lei
Panpan Li
Ilias Giannenas
Jing Wang
Weiyun Zhu
author_sort Runlin Li
collection DOAJ
description It has been found that thymol (Thy) and rosmarinic acid (Ros-A) improve the growth performance of piglets and relieve intestinal inflammation in animals. The effects of Thy and Ros-A separately or in combination (Thy × Ros-A) on the intestinal function and health of piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88 (E. coli K88) were investigated. A total of 30 piglets aged 21 d were assigned to 5 groups (n = 6). The control (Con) and K88 groups piglets received a basal diet, while the Thy, Ros-A, and Thy × Ros-A groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg Thy, 500 mg/kg Ros-A, and 250 mg/kg Thy + 250 mg/kg Ros-A, respectively. On the 19th and 20th day, piglets in the K88, Thy, Ros-A, and Thy × Ros-A groups were orally administered 10 mL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing approximately 1 × 109 CFU/mL of E. coli K88, while the Con group received an equal volume of PBS. The results showed that the Thy × Ros-A treatment reduced the damage to ileal villi induced by the E. coli K88 challenge, leading to longer villi in the ileum (P < 0.05). Thy and Ros-A modulated the composition of the ileal microbiota. Compared to the K88 group, the Thy × Ros-A group had a higher abundance of Lactobacillus and Romboutsia, while Escherichia-Shigella and Desulforvibrio were lower (P < 0.05). Additionally, the Thy × Ros-A group showed elevated levels of gene and protein expressions for zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-1 compared to the K88 group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, combining Thy and Ros-A reduced ileal damage and relieved the inflammation in weaned piglets challenged with E. coli K88 by regulating intestinal microflora and improving barrier function.
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spelling doaj-art-5bb5a0b282bd4f798a4ce7b275e92ddf2025-08-20T03:44:27ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Animal Nutrition2405-65452025-03-012013114410.1016/j.aninu.2024.11.008The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88Runlin Li0Xuedong Ding1Mingkang Lei2Panpan Li3Ilias Giannenas4Jing Wang5Weiyun Zhu6National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaNational Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaNational Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaNational Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaAristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, Thessaloniki 54124, GreeceNational Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; Corresponding author.National Center for International Research on Animal Gut Nutrition, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Animal Health, Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Microbiology, National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center of Animal Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaIt has been found that thymol (Thy) and rosmarinic acid (Ros-A) improve the growth performance of piglets and relieve intestinal inflammation in animals. The effects of Thy and Ros-A separately or in combination (Thy × Ros-A) on the intestinal function and health of piglets challenged with Escherichia coli K88 (E. coli K88) were investigated. A total of 30 piglets aged 21 d were assigned to 5 groups (n = 6). The control (Con) and K88 groups piglets received a basal diet, while the Thy, Ros-A, and Thy × Ros-A groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg Thy, 500 mg/kg Ros-A, and 250 mg/kg Thy + 250 mg/kg Ros-A, respectively. On the 19th and 20th day, piglets in the K88, Thy, Ros-A, and Thy × Ros-A groups were orally administered 10 mL of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing approximately 1 × 109 CFU/mL of E. coli K88, while the Con group received an equal volume of PBS. The results showed that the Thy × Ros-A treatment reduced the damage to ileal villi induced by the E. coli K88 challenge, leading to longer villi in the ileum (P < 0.05). Thy and Ros-A modulated the composition of the ileal microbiota. Compared to the K88 group, the Thy × Ros-A group had a higher abundance of Lactobacillus and Romboutsia, while Escherichia-Shigella and Desulforvibrio were lower (P < 0.05). Additionally, the Thy × Ros-A group showed elevated levels of gene and protein expressions for zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-1 compared to the K88 group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, combining Thy and Ros-A reduced ileal damage and relieved the inflammation in weaned piglets challenged with E. coli K88 by regulating intestinal microflora and improving barrier function.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654524001665ThymolRosmarinic acidIntestinal microbiotaWeaned piglet
spellingShingle Runlin Li
Xuedong Ding
Mingkang Lei
Panpan Li
Ilias Giannenas
Jing Wang
Weiyun Zhu
The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88
Animal Nutrition
Thymol
Rosmarinic acid
Intestinal microbiota
Weaned piglet
title The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88
title_full The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88
title_fullStr The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88
title_full_unstemmed The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88
title_short The impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by Escherichia coli K88
title_sort impact of combined thymol and rosmarinic acid on the intestinal microbiota and barrier function of the piglets challenged by escherichia coli k88
topic Thymol
Rosmarinic acid
Intestinal microbiota
Weaned piglet
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654524001665
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