Resveratrol and Curcumin Improve Intestinal Mucosal Integrity and Decrease m⁶A RNA Methylation in the Intestine of...

Area of Science:

• Animal Nutrition
• Molecular Biology
• Epigenetics

Background:

• N-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant RNA modification in eukaryotes.
• Resveratrol and curcumin possess health-protective properties and may influence m6A RNA methylation.
• The impact of combined resveratrol and curcumin on m6A methylation in weaned piglets is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of resveratrol and curcumin on growth performance, intestinal integrity, m6A RNA methylation, and gene expression in weaned piglets.
• To evaluate the potential of resveratrol and curcumin as natural alternatives to antibiotics.

Main Methods:

• 180 weaned piglets were assigned to control or various dietary supplementations including antibiotics, resveratrol, curcumin, or their combination for 28 days.
• Growth performance, intestinal mucosal integrity, antioxidative capacity, m6A content, and gene expression were assessed.
• Specific focus on m6A enrichment on tight junction proteins and heme oxygenase-1 transcripts.

Main Results:

• Combined resveratrol and curcumin supplementation enhanced piglet growth performance and intestinal mucosal integrity.
• Supplementation increased intestinal antioxidative capacity and mRNA expression of tight junction proteins.
• Resveratrol and curcumin reduced intestinal m6A content and m6A enrichment on specific target transcripts.

Conclusions:

• Combined resveratrol and curcumin improve growth, gut health, and antioxidant capacity in piglets, potentially via modulation of m6A RNA methylation.
• These natural compounds may serve as a viable antibiotic alternative in animal feed.
• The findings highlight the role of m6A methylation in mediating the beneficial effects of resveratrol and curcumin.