Effect of Cynara scolymus and Silybum marianum extracts on bile production in pigs

MARTINEZ, G., DIEGUEZ, S., PEREZ, D., DECUNDO, J.,PAGII, B., SORACI, A.L. ; ALEJANDRO L. SORACI

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH

GARUDA SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Año: 2018

0971-2119

Many of the beneficial effects on productive performance observed when vegetable extractsare incorporated as feed additives in intensive farming can be explained by an increase inbile production. An experiment was conducted to study choleretic and cholagogue effect ofa Cynara scolymus extract formulation and of silymarin in pigs. Pigs were cannulated witha T-tube catheter in the bile duct. Bile production was continuously measured and reinfusedto the duodenum through Oddi´s sphincter at the same production rate. Treatments:Group A (n=6), commercial feed; Group B (n=6), Cynara scolymus extract (300 g/ton) andGroup C (n=6), silymarin (300 g/ton). Bile production has been recorded hourly for eachanimal during 24 h. Total bile acids concentration in bile, just before, and one hour aftermeals were evaluated. Average daily bile production for pigs in group B was 66% higherthan for pigs in groups A or C (P< 0.05). When bile acids concentrations before and aftermeals were compared, only pigs from group B exhibited an increase (P= 0.0023). From thisstudy, it was concluded that neither choleretic nor cholagogue effects are attained withsilymarin supplementation. On the contrary, Cynara scolymus extract increases bileproduction and secretion in pigs.Keywords