In the post-antibiotic era, finding safe, effective, and residue-free natural antibiotic alternatives has become a core issue in the global livestock industry. Sanguinarine (SA), a benzophenanthrene alkaloid extracted from the traditional medicinal plant Macleaya cordata, has become one of the most extensively researched and widely used plant-derived feed additives due to its unique anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, intestinal barrier strengthening, and gut microbiota optimization functions.
As a professional Macleaya Cordata Extract Manufacturer, KINTAIBIO® does not simply provide crude plant extracts, but rather offers functional feed additive raw materials with Sanguinarine as the quality control standard, based on standardized extraction processes and precise quantitative technology. Our products aim to regulate animal gut health through multiple targets, ultimately achieving the goal of "efficient and sustainable" farming.Please feel free to contact our sales team at sales@kintaibio.com.
uses and Effects of Sanguinarine in Different Animal Feeds
Pigs: Promoting Growth and Gut Health
The uses of Macleaya Cordata Extract in pig feed has been the most extensively studied and has shown the most significant effects.
Weaning piglets is a critical stage in the farming process, often facing weaning stress and the risk of diarrhea. Studies have shown that adding sanguinarine to weaned piglet diets significantly increases average daily feed intake and average daily weight gain, reduces feed conversion ratio, and effectively prevents diarrhea. Its growth-promoting effect is comparable to traditional chlortetracycline or oxytetracycline, but without the risk of antibiotic residues.
Further research has found that sanguinarine can increase serum immunoglobulin G levels and lysozyme activity in weaned piglets, enhance macrophage phagocytic index, thereby improving immune function and enhancing disease resistance. In low-protein diets, macleaya cordata plume poppy sanguinarine can also increase the net absorption of essential amino acids and total amino acids via the portal vein, improving protein utilization.
For finishing pigs, sanguinarine not only improves feed conversion ratio but also reduces intestinal pathological damage caused by Lawsonia intracellularis infection. Notably, pre-slaughter Sanguinarine and Chelerythrine can improve meat color and muscle pH, reduce drip loss, and significantly improve meat quality. Adding sanguinarine to sow lactation feed can improve sow stress, increase milk production, and increase piglet weaning weight.
Poultry: Enhancing Immunity and Improving Product Quality
Necrotic enteritis, a common disease caused by Clostridium perfringens in poultry farming, causes significant economic losses to the industry. Studies have shown that adding 350 mg/kg plume poppy Macleaya Cordata Extract (with sanguinarine as its main active ingredient) to broiler diets can significantly improve the growth performance of broilers suffering from necrotizing enteritis, reduce intestinal damage, and alleviate intestinal inflammation.
This study revealed the mechanism of action of sanguinarine: a significant reduction in the number of Clostridium perfringens in the cecum, a decrease in the abundance of bacteria associated with inflammation, obesity, and depression (such as Barnesiella and Alistipes), and a relative increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids (such as Streptococcus and Ruminococcus torques group). These changes in the gut microbiota are closely related to anti-inflammatory effects and improved growth performance.
Macleaya cordata total alkaloids also shows excellent performance in laying hen production. A recent study published in Poultry Science shows that adding 350 mg/kg Macleaya Cordata Extract to the diet can linearly or quadratically increase egg weight and Haugh units, and significantly increase eggshell thickness. This is attributed to the regulation of immune function by sanguinarine: elevated serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, increased levels of secretory immunoglobulin A in the jejunum and ileum, and upregulated expression of genes related to egg protein production (such as Serpinb14 and OIH). Gut microbiota analysis showed that sanguinarine increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria *Bryobacter* and *Parasutterella*, and decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria *Erysipelatoclostridium*.
Ruminants: A New Breakthrough in Rumen Metabolism Regulation
In ruminant farming, improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing nitrogen emissions have always been a focus of industry attention. Recent studies have found that sanguinarine has significant inhibitory activity against rumen urease. Through homology modeling and molecular docking techniques, researchers screened Sanguinarine as a highly efficient urease inhibitor candidate.
Using anaerobic rumen microbial culture technology, they confirmed that Sanguinarine effectively slows down urea decomposition, reduces ammonia nitrogen production, and significantly improves the nitrogen metabolism efficiency of rumen microorganisms. This discovery is significant-it adds a new functional application scenario to Macleaya Cordata Extract as a livestock input and has important value in alleviating protein feed shortages and reducing nitrogen emissions from livestock farming.
Application research in dairy production is equally encouraging. A study published in *Veterinary Research Communications* in 2025 evaluated the effects of Macleaya Cordata Extract on peripartum dairy cows. The results showed that the Sanguinarine-supplemented group achieved a milk yield of 51.3 ± 1.1 kg/day at 25 days postpartum, significantly higher than the control group's 46.5 ± 1.1 kg/day. Simultaneously, plasma 3-nitrotyrosine and serum interleukin-1 concentrations were significantly reduced, indicating that Sanguinarine improved the inflammatory and oxidative stress state of dairy cows.
Aquaculture: Expanding Application Boundaries
Preliminary progress has been made in the application research of sanguinarine in aquaculture. Studies on eels have found that adding sanguinarine to feed can affect their growth performance, serum biochemical indicators, antioxidant function, and intestinal morphology. This provides new ideas for aquatic feed development.
Safety of Sanguinarine as a Feed Additive
macleaya plume poppy Sanguinarine is derived from the natural plant Macleaya Cordata and is characterized by low (or no) residue, safety, and high efficiency. Aquatic animal studies have shown that at effective doses, it has no significant adverse effects on carcass composition, liver function, and health status.
The following points should be noted to ensure its safety:
- Dosage Control: Scientifically formulate dosage based on animal species, age, weight, etc., to avoid excessive use.
- Uniform Mixing: Ensure sanguinarine is evenly distributed in the feed to avoid excessively high local concentrations.
- Compliant Source: Use legally approved traditional Chinese veterinary medicine preparations added to the feed; do not use raw materials directly.
Where to buy Sanguinarine Chelerythrine Powder
Sanguinarine, as a natural active ingredient derived from traditional Chinese herbal medicine, shows broad application prospects in the field of feed additives. From pigs and poultry to ruminants and aquaculture, from promoting growth and improving gut health to regulating rumen metabolism and enhancing product quality, the versatility of Sanguinarine is being confirmed by scientific research.
As a plant extract supplier, KINTAIBIO® can provide high-quality Macleaya cordata extract powder. We will continue to dedicate ourselves to optimizing the Sanguinarine process and controlling its quality, providing feed companies and farms with stable, compliant, and efficient high-quality raw materials, jointly promoting the healthy transformation of the livestock industry.Whether you are conducting initial sample testing or need to purchase in bulk for large-scale production, you can easily submit your inquiry through our official channel sales@kintaibio.com.
