THE EFFECT OF GRAPE WASTES, WINE INDUSTRY BY-PRODUCTS, ON INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT BIOMARKERS IN POST-WEANING PIGLETS

Gina Cecilia Pistol, L.M. Palade, Daniela Eliza Marin, Mariana Stancu, Ionelia Taranu

Abstract
   Grape wastes, such as grape pomace and grape seeds are industrial wastes from the wine processing which is already known in scientific media, but does not yet have a particular interest in animal nutrition. These wastes are rich in bioactive compounds (polyphenols), with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a compound feed containing 8% grape seed meal (GSM) on the humoral, systemic and local (duodenum) inflammatory response, and on oxidative stress parameters in weaning piglets. A total of 12 piglets, 6 piglets per group, were fed with 1) control diet or 2) 8% GSM diet for 30 days. At the end of feeding experiment, piglets were slaughtered. Concentration of immunoglobulin and pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the total antioxidant capacity and the lipid peroxidation were assessed. Our results showed that GSM diet did not affect the humoral immune response, plasma concentration of IgA, IgM and IgG remaining unmodified. By contrast, at duodenum level, the GSM diet had anti-inflammatory effect, by reducing the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α. GSM significantly increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in duodenum and reduced the level of lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, GSM by its content in bioactive compounds (polyphenols) and fibers is a valuable feeding alternative with positive effects in weaning and post-weaning period, with the capacity to reduce the inflammatory response in duodenum and the oxidative stress, by modulation of the antioxidant status at systemic and intestinal level.

Key words: weaning, piglets, inflammation, oxidative stress, polyphenols, by-products