{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T15:20:06Z","timestamp":1762183206401,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]],"date-time":"2025-11-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1761955200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Training Program of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates, Southwest University","award":["S202110635182"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["S202110635182"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study aimed to evaluate the individual and combined effects of dandelion extract and akebia extract on growth, inflammation, and gut microbiota in weaned rabbits. Using a two-factor randomized design, 120 rabbits (1.219 kg \u00b1 0.077 kg, 35 days of age) were divided into four groups (10 replicates\/group). Growth metrics (feed intake, fecal score, weight gain) and biological samples (blood, liver, jejunal\/ileal mucosa, digesta) were analyzed over 28 days. Key results indicated that combined dandelion and akebia supplementation significantly increased daily weight gain during the first week (p &lt; 0.05). Dandelion alone reduced liver Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and jejunal interleukin 6 (IL-6) (p &lt; 0.05). Akebia supplementation decreased serum immunoglobulin A (IgA)\/IL-6, liver interleukin 1\u03b2 (IL-1\u03b2)\/IL-6\/IgG, and jejunal IL-1\u03b2\/IL-6\/IgG\/IgA (p &lt; 0.05). Gene expression revealed dandelion downregulated liver interferon-\u03b3 (IFN-\u03b3)\/interleukin 10 (IL-10) and jejunal IL-1\u03b2\/interleukin 10 (TNF-\u03b1) (p &lt; 0.05), while akebia suppressed hepatic C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 3 (CCL3)\/C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 10 (CXCL10)\/IFN-\u03b3\/IL-1\u03b2 and mucosal IL-1\u03b2\/IFN-\u03b3 (p &lt; 0.05). A significant interaction effect (p &lt; 0.05) between dandelion and akebia reduced ileal IL-6\/IL-10\/TNF-\u03b1 and jejunal CXCL10\/IL-10 mRNA expression. Akebia also increased cecal microbial diversity and the abundance of Oxalibacilli and Sutterella while reducing Firmicutes abundance (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, both extracts modulated immunity and attenuated inflammatory responses through modulation of immunoglobulins, cytokines, and chemokines. Their combination demonstrated synergistic anti-inflammatory effects, alongside beneficial shifts in gut microbiota composition.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci12111048","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T13:15:14Z","timestamp":1762175714000},"page":"1048","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of Akebia and Dandelion on Growth Performance, Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota in Weaned Rabbits"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1487-3852","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yawang","family":"Sun","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yan","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mussa Suleiman","family":"Mgeni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China"},{"name":"Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, School of Agriculture, State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), Zanzibar P.O. Box 146, Tanzania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiaoyu","family":"Jiang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yu","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Junqiu","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jingzhi","family":"Lv","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fang, S.M., Chen, X., Pan, J.H., Chen, Q.H., Zhou, L.W., Wang, C.C., Xiao, T.F., and Gan, Q.F. 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