Effect of Anacardium occidentale Leaf Powder on Growth Performance, Diarrhea Incidence, Blood Biochemistry, and Intestinal Traits in Weaned Piglets

To evaluate the phytobiotic effect of <i>Anacardium occidentale</i> leaf powder (AOLP) on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, blood biochemistry, and intestinal traits, seventy-two weaned piglets were randomly distributed into four groups (six replicates/group and three pigs/replicate) for 28 days, receiving a control diet (T0) or being supplemented with 5 (T1), 10 (T2), or 15 (T3) g/kg of AOLP. The diets did not affect the growth performance (<i>p</i> > 0.05); however, the AOLP groups had a decreased diarrhea incidence and malondialdehyde concentration (<i>p</i> < 0.05; 28 days). However, the AOLP groups had increased immunoglobulins (G and M) and villus heights (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in the duodenum. Likewise, T3 improved the number of goblet cells in the villi and the whole intestine (<i>p</i> < 0.01), the Mucin2 area in the jejunum and ileum (<i>p</i> < 0.05), occludin gene expression in the jejunum (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and acetic and valeric acid production (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Microbial diversity at the genus level was not different (<i>p ></i> 0.05); however, T3 increased the abundance of the <i>Lactobacillus</i> genus. These findings suggest that dietary supplementation with AOLP improved intestinal health by increasing antioxidant, immune, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal activity in the weaned piglets.