BACKGROUND: @entity9541 (PS), plant-derived natural @entity479 compounds, are novel feed additives to regulate immune function and promote @entity1707 growth. This study was conducted to determine the effects of PS on the immune response of weaned piglets. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty crossbred (Duroc   *   Landrace   *   Yorkshire) piglets with an average initial weight of 9.58        0.26   kg were randomly allotted to three treatments. Treatments consisted of a control, PS (0.2   g   kg(-1) ) and @entity3273 (0.04   g   kg(-1) , antibiotic control) treatment. The results showed that PS or @entity3273 supplementation remarkably decreased @entity294 rate and elevated CD3(+) CD4(+) /CD3(+) CD8(+) ratio in piglets compared with the control (P<0.05). PS increased Ba and serum IL-4, and caused a shift towards Th2 profile by decreasing Th1/Th2 ratios in piglets compared with control (P<0.05). @entity3273 contributed to an increase in IL-10 compared with the control (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the amount of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium or @entity526 of jejunum among the three treatments (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PS supplementation has no significant effect on growth but could remarkably decrease @entity294 rate, improve immunity and anti-inflammatory activity in weaned piglets. In addition, PS supplementation had the similar effects on growth, anti- @entity32 and intestinal microorganisms as supplementation with @entity3273 in piglets.

XXXX improve immunity and exert anti-inflammatory activity in weaned piglets.

@entity1707 :: ('9823', 'Species') :: ['pig'] @entity32 :: ('MESH:D007249', 'Disease') :: ['inflammation'] @entity3273 :: ('MESH:D003091', 'Chemical') :: ['polymyxin E', 'Polymyxin E'] @entity294 :: ('MESH:D003967', 'Disease') :: ['diarrhea'] @entity9541 :: ('MESH:D010840', 'Chemical') :: ['Phytosterols'] @entity526 :: ('562', 'Species') :: ['Escherichia coli'] @entity479 :: ('D013256', 'Chemical') :: ['steroid']
@entity9541 :: (MESH:D010840,Chemical) :: ['Phytosterols']
