In Vitro Digestion of Chestnut and Quebracho Tannin Extracts: Antimicrobial Effect, Antioxidant Capacity and Cytomodulatory Activity in Swine Intestinal IPEC-J2 Cells

Simple Summary Castanea sativa Mill. (Fagaceae) is the predominant sweet chestnut tree in Europe. Despite the significant economic value of chestnuts as sources of food and wood, the high content of tannin also increases the value of sweet chestnut trees. Quebracho trees (Schinopsis spp., family Anacardiaceae) grow mainly in Argentina and Paraguay. Quebracho extract obtained from Schinopsis spp. contains 15% to 21% pure tannin. Tannins extracted from these plants have been applied in intensive swine farms due to their ability to improve animal performance and health. However, there are contrasting results regarding the bio-accessibility of chestnut and quebracho and their relative antioxidant activity and growth-rate reducing ability on E. coli, which ultimately affect their benefits in terms of intestinal health and animal production. Our results demonstrate that chestnut and quebracho exert a growth inhibitory activity against Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) species and antioxidant capacity directly, without extraction and after in vitro digestion. Our findings not only suggest that the combined use of chestnut and quebracho can maximize their functional effects, but also that an appropriate dosage of tannins may be key in terms of their effect on bacteria and cells. Quebracho (Qu) and chestnut (Ch) are natural sources of tannins and they are currently used in animal nutrition as feed ingredients. However, to date the bio-accessibility, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and intestinal epithelial cell stimulatory doses of Qu and Ch have not been determined. Our study investigates the antioxidant and E. coli F4+ and F18+ growth inhibitory activity of Qu, Ch, and their combinations after solubilization in water (to evaluate the already bio-accessible molecules) and after simulated gastro-intestinal digestion in vitro. The effect of an in vitro digested Ch and Qu combination was also tested on intestinal epithelial IPEC-J2 cells experimentally stressed with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS). The results showed that undigested Qu and Ch alone, and in combination, exerted a valuable antioxidant capacity and E. coli F4+ and F18+ growth inhibitory activity. The concentration of 1200 mu g/mL exhibited the highest E. coli growth inhibitory activity for all the samples tested. In addition, after in vitro digestion, Qu and Qu50%-Ch50% maintained E. coli growth inhibitory activity and a modest antioxidant capacity. Three hours pre-treatment with in vitro digested Qu50%-Ch50% counteracted the H2O2 and DSS experimentally-induced stress in the intestinal IPEC-J2 cells. Ch and Qu tannin extracts, particularly when combined, may exert E. coli F4+ and F18+ growth inhibitory activity and valuable antioxidant and cell viability modulation activities.