Alternative to antibiotics for weaned pigs: The beneficial effects of Dihydromyricetin (DMY)

In modern agriculture practices, early weaned piglets are fed with antibiotics to deal with diarrhea and intestinal injuries. However, the use of antibiotics is restricted in several countries due to its potential negative impact on health and the environment. This has led to the need for identifying natural alternatives to antibiotics, which can help improve performance, gastrointestinal tract function, and prevent diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli (ETEC) in pigs.

What is Dihydromyricetin (DMY)?

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural flavanonol compound extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata. It has various biological activities such as antioxidative and immunomodulatory functions, making it an attractive substitute for antibiotics in pig production.

How does DMY benefit weaned pigs?

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of DMY on growth performance, immunity, and intestinal barrier functions in weaned pigs facing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli challenge. The results indicated that dietary DMY can alleviate intestinal injury in weaned pigs upon ETEC challenge and serve as a natural potent substitute for antibiotics. Dihydromyricetin supplementation could improve growth performance and enhance intestinal functions in weaned pigs.

The benefits of using DMY over antibiotics

The use of antibiotics in pig production has resulted in several health and environmental concerns. On the other hand, Dihydromyricetin is a natural compound that has been found to be beneficial for pig production without any side effects. Apart from improving the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract, DMY also promotes immunity and relieves intestinal injury.

Conclusion

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is a natural alternative that can alleviate intestinal injury in pig production. The use of DMY as a substitute for antibiotics can help improve the performance of pigs and enhance their intestinal functions. As a result, it is a better option for modern agriculture practices. Furthermore, the potential health and environmental concerns caused by antibiotics’ use justify the need for identifying alternative solutions.

Keywords

Escherichia coli
Immunity
DMY
Intestinal epithelium
Microbiota
Weaned pigs

Copyright: © 2024 Xie, Qi, Ab, Yu, Luo, Huang, Mao, Yu, Zheng, Yan, Li, Ab and He. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Originally Post From https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1421871/abstract

“Dihydromyricetin Boosts Growth, Immunity, and Intestinal Functions”