Xantal Project: Results and conclusions

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During the execution of Xantal Project, has been identified the raw materials rich in carotenoids, and the experimental conditions of UV radiation exposure and the enzymatic treatments to obtain carotenoids derivatives with anti-inflammatory efficacy. The prototypes tested are products derived from the marigold flower, with either or not the technological treatments applied previously mentioned. During the execution of the project also has been identified the appropriate encapsulation strategies to improve the protection of the active compounds and its release at the intestinal level. The electron microscopy study and the thermogravimetric study have confirmed the optimum performance of the process presented at laboratory level. The efficacy of the obtained prototypes has been assessed by in vitro and in vivo studies. The in vitro anti-inflammatory efficacy studies, using an inflammatory model in Caco-2 cells, have demonstrated that the cells exposed to the no-cytotoxic minimum dilutions of the prototypes show an improvement in the membrane integrity of the cells, and also a reduction on the inflammatory cytokines, demonstrating an anti-inflammatory activity of the carotenoids and its derivatives by in vitro methodology. The in vivo efficacy was evaluated in weaned piglets infected with ETEC K88. The dietary supplementation with carotenoids has improved, numerically, the performance parameters (live weight and feed conversion ratio) at 42 days (d) of life, and the incidence of diarrhoeas (0-42 d), along with modifications observed on the intestinal cytokine’s productions (significative reduction of inflammatory cytokines, and increase of the anti-inflammatory cytokines), confirms the in vivo immunomodulatory efficacy of the carotenoids and its derivatives. Thanks to this disruptive results, ITPSA keeps researching in this line with the aim to developing new tools to improve animal’s health and the performance of the livestock. The execution of the Xantal Project has been possible thanks to the co-funding of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the support of the l’Agència per la Competitivitat de l’Empresa of the Generalitat de Catalunya (ACCIÓ), under the programme d’Ajuts per a projectes en forma de Nuclis de recerca industrial i desenvolupament experimental locals i internacionals (RD).