Abstract
N 6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification on eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA). Resveratrol and curcumin, which can exert many health-protective effects, may have a relationship with m6A RNA methylation. We hypothesized that the combination of resveratrol and curcumin could affect growth performance, intestinal mucosal integrity, m6A RNA methylation, and gene expression in weaning piglets. One hundred and eighty piglets weaned at 28 ± 2 days were fed a control diet or supplementary diets (300 mg/kg of antibiotics; 300 mg/kg of each resveratrol and curcumin; 100 mg/kg of each resveratrol and curcumin; 300 mg/kg of resveratrol; 300 mg/kg of curcumin) for 28 days. The results showed that the combination of resveratrol and curcumin improved growth performance and enhanced intestinal mucosal integrity and functions in weaning piglets. Resveratrol and curcumin also increased intestinal antioxidative capacity and mRNA expression of tight junction proteins. Furthermore, resveratrol and curcumin decreased the content of m6A and decreased the enrichment of m6A on the transcripts of tight junction proteins and on heme oxygenase-1 in the intestine. Our findings indicated that the combination of resveratrol and curcumin increased growth performance, enhanced intestine function, and protected piglet health, which may be associated with changes in m6A methylation and gene expression, suggesting that curcumin and resveratrol may be a potential natural alternative to antibiotics.