Traditional Chinese medicines formula supplementation to late pregnancy sows enhance the ileal barrier and anti-inflammatory capacity of their offspring

BACKGROUND: The nutritional status during the late stage of pregnancy significantly influences the survival rate, birth weight, growth performance, and immune function of piglets while also playing a pivotal role in regulating intestinal barrier function. However, it remains unclear whether supplementation with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can enhance offspring piglets' intestinal barrier function and immune function. METHODS: 24 late-pregnancy sows (85 days pregnant) were randomly assigned to either CON group or TCM group for a 30-day feeding trial. Following parturition, 10 newborn piglets from each group were randomly selected for euthanasia, and the ileal tissues as well as cecal contents were collected for analysis. The hub active ingredients and targets of TCMs formula were analyzed using network pharmacology. RESULTS: TCM group exhibited elongation and deepening of villi in the ileum, a significant increase in Peyer's patches, notable enhancement of intestinal immune function, and improved anti-inflammatory ability. Further, maternal TCMs supplementation might increase the abundances of Sutterella and Actinoplanes in the piglet cecum, which significantly affected chemoheterotrophy, aerobic-chemoheterotrophy, and fermentation functions. PI3KCA and PI3KCB may serve as hub genes for the 14 TCMs. Kaempferol, Quercetin, and Luteolin were identified as the top three active ingredients with potential positive effects on Neonatal piglets through modulation of MAPK signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Incorporating Chinese herbs into the diets of sows significantly improves the Ileum barrier function and anti-inflammatory capacity of piglets, potentially attributable to active ingredients, modulation of intestinal microbial communities, and activation of diverse signaling pathways.