Effects of Akebia and Dandelion on Growth Performance, Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota in Weaned Rabbits

This study investigated the respective and combined effects of dandelion extract and akebia extract on growth performance, inflammation response, and gut microbes in weaned rabbits. This study used a two-factor randomized group design, and the factors were dandelion extract (0 or 0.5% addition in the basic diet) and akebia extract (0 or 0.5% addition in the basic diet). One hundred and twenty healthy weaning rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 replicates in each group. Feed intake and fecal score were daily recorded, while body weight and weight gain were measured and calculated weekly. On the 28th day, one rabbit from each replicate were euthanized to obtain blood, liver tissue, mucosa and digesta from jejunum and ileal. The results showed that the daily gain of group with dandelion and akebia extract was significantly increased in the first week (p < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) content was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of dandelion extract while the IgG content in liver tissue and the interleukin 6 (IL-6) content in jejunum mucosa were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The level of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IL-6, liver tissue interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and IgG, as well as jejunal mucosa IL-1β, IL-6, IgG, and IgA significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in groups with akebia extract. Dandelion extract addition significantly decreased the gene expression of liver tissue interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), jejunal mucosa IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) mRNA expression of IL-1β in ileal mucosa. Akebia extract addition significantly decreased (p < 0.05) mRNA expression of C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 3 (CCL3), C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10 (CXCL10), IFN-γ, IL-1β genes in liver tissue, IL-1β gene in jejunal mucosa and IFN-γ gene in ileal mucosa. The research showed a significant interaction effect (p < 0.05) between dandelion and akebia extract on mRNA expression of ileal mucosa IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and the combination effect of the two extract significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the mRNA expression of CXCL10, IL-10 in jejunal mucosa. Akebia extract significantly increased the Chao 1 index and decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes while significantly increased the relative abundance of Oxalibacilli and Sutterella (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dandelion and akebia extract improved the immunity of weaned rabbits and decreased gene expression of inflammatory factors while increasing the abundance of cecal microbes to exert anti-inflammatory effects. Meanwhile, the interaction effect of dandelion and akebia extract significantly decreased the genetic expression of inflammatory factors.