Influence of Lonicera japonica and Radix Puerariae crude extracts on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunological functions of finishing pigs

This study aimed to investigate the influence of adding Lonicera japonica (L. japonica) and Radix Puerariae crude extracts, and their mixture to the diet of finishing pigs on their growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunological functions. A total of 72 healthy Duroc x Landrace x Yorkshire crossbred barrows without sig-nificant differences in body weight were selected and randomly divided into four groups (18 in each group). The groups were fed with the following diets: control group, basic diet; L. japonica crude extract (CGA) group, basic diet + 1 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract; Radix Puerariae crude extract (PF) group, basic diet + 1 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract; and mix group, basic diet + 0.5 kg/ton L. japonica crude extract + 0.5 kg/ton Radix Puerariae crude extract. The following results were obtained: 1) The average daily feed intake in the mix group significantly increased compared with that in the control group (P<0.05), and the ratio of feed to gain signif-icantly decreased (P<0.05). 2) The red blood cell count significantly increased in the CGA and PF groups compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). The neutrophil count in the PF group significantly decreased compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). 3) Serum cholesterol content was significantly lower in the CGA group than in the other three groups(P<0.05), whereas the high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels in the serum of the PF and mix groups were significantly higher than those of the control groups. The low-density li-poprotein (LDL-C) level in the serum of the mix group was significantly lower than that in the PF group (P<0.05). 4) The malondialdehyde content in the serum of the CGA group was significantly reduced compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). The total antioxidant capacity and the activity levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly enhanced compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). 5) The immunoglobulin M and interleukin-4 levels in the serum of the CGA group were significantly reduced compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The IL-4 content of the PF group significantly decreased (P<0.05). The immunoglobulin A content in the serum of the mix group significantly increased, whereas the IL-4 content was significantly reduced (P<0.05). In summary, adding L. japonica and Radix Puerariae crude extracts to the diet can improved antioxidant capacities, blood biochemical indices, and immunological functions, thereby enhancing the growth performance of finishing pigs.