Sophora japonica Extract Supplementation Facilitates Piglets’ Early Weaning Transition by Alleviating Intestinal Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Microbiota Dysbiosis

Abstract

Simple Summary The early weaning of piglets remains widely practiced in intensive swine production, although it is frequently associated with intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Sophora japonica extract (SJE) on attenuating intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis in early-weaned piglets. Supplementation with 0.1% SJE significantly reduced fecal scores on days 7 and 14 post-weaning, while also improving growth performance during days 8–14 post-weaning in early-weaned piglets. Moreover, SJE supplementation enhanced jejunal morphology, elevated intestinal antioxidant enzyme activities, and concurrently decreased oxidative metabolite levels. Consistently, SJE supplementation upregulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes in the jejunum. Additionally, SJE supplementation increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Notably, SJE supplementation also reshaped the gut microbiota and increased alpha diversity indices, including observed species, ACE, and Chao1. The SJE-induced changes in gut microbiota were significantly correlated with early weaning–related indices. These findings provide evidence that SJE may be used to alleviate diarrhea, intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota dysbiosis in early-weaned piglets.