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ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of dietary supplementation of muramidase (MUR) and 2 phytogenic additives on the growth performance, intestinal morphology, bacteria load, and production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) of broiler chickens raised under field-like conditions. A total of 6,400 day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly selected and distributed into 32 floor pens, with 200 chicks (100 males and 100 females)/pen. The treatment groups were an unsupplemented control, and the experimental groups supplemented with MUR at 35,000 LSU(F)/kg of feed, phytogenic 1 (Phyto 1, based on thymol) at 100g/ton feed, or phytogenic 2 (Phyto 2, based on alkaloids) at 60g/ton feed, for a total period of 41 d. A 4-phase feeding program was applied (starter, grower, finisher and withdrawal). The paramenters evaluated were: growth performance, carcass yield, concentration of muranic acid in the jejunum content and excreta, liver enzyme concentration, intestinal morphology, and bacteria enumeration and short and branch chain fatty acids (SCFA and BCFA) in the cecal content. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test was used to separate the means. Soluble muramic acid (MurN) in the jejunum increased with the supplementation of MUR and Phyto 2 when compared to the other groups (P = 0.0001), but only the supplementation of MUR increased the concentration of MurN in the excreta. The supplementation of all feed additives improved the body weight gain and the body weight corrected feed conversion ratio when compared to the control group (P = 0.0001). MUR increased villus heigh (VH) when compared to the control or the other supplemented groups (P = 0.0001), and led to the highest concentration of most SCFA, total BCFA, and total SCFA (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of MUR and phytogenics to the diets of broiler chickens improved the growth performance, but MUR, only, was capable of effectively degrading peptidoglycans (PGNs) in both intestinal segments, as well as to increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria and SCFA production.

SUMMARY: The poor quality and safety of poultry feed in developing countries pose significant concerns as they negatively impact poultry performance and present potential health risks to human consumers. Aflatoxicosis, resulting from postharvest contamination of feed ingredients by certain mold species, severely affects birds' overall health and productivity. To address these challenges, various feed additives have become increasingly important in poultry nutrition. Phytogenics, natural plant-derived products, have gained popularity for their ability to mitigate aflatoxicosis by their rich composition of bioactive compounds that offer beneficial effects on physiological and immunological functions. In light of the growing significance of aflatoxicosis in poultry nutrition, this review provides an overview of aflatoxins and their harmful effects on poultry health. It highlights the role of phytogenic compounds as growth and health stimulators, emphasizing their potential application in poultry nutrition. Furthermore, the review explores the antioxidant and immunological mechanisms through which phytogenics mitigate aflatoxicosis in poultry, including specific compounds and pathways involved. The findings reveal that aflatoxins induce inflammation, and oxidative stress in poultry, resulting in cellular damage and immune dysfunction. Phytogenics play a crucial role in ameliorating the harmful effects of aflatoxins in birds by countering aflatoxin-induced oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and restoring gut health and immune functions. In conclusion, phytogenics offer an invaluable tool for the mitigation of aflatoxicosis in poultry and serve as potent natural and safe alternatives to antibiotics and synthetic antioxidants, promoting sustainable production practices.

The present study synthesized and evaluated the effects of nanoliposomes loaded daidzein (NLD) in diabetic mice induced by alloxan. Five groups of Balb-c mice were treated for 5 weeks (Group 1 and 2 referred to as normal and diabetic control receiving normal feed). Group 3 and 4 were diabetic mice receiving 50 and 100 mg/kg/BW NLD respectively. Group 5, diabetic mice, received the standard drug, Metformin, 250 mg/kg/BW per day orally. Results indicated that NLD significantly (p

SUMMARY: Two trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a phytogenic, blend administered through the water, in reducing Salmonella infection in broiler chickens. The first trial was aimed to evaluate the potential efficacy of the phytogenic blend given at one dose, while the second compared 3 concentrations of the same blend. For the first trial, 240 one-day-old male broilers were obtained from a commercial hatchery and placed in battery cages. There were 10 replicates of 2 treatments: 1) infected control and 2) infected, water soluble phytogenic (0.100 g/L). Birds were challenged with 0.5 × 108 colony forming unit (CFU) nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella typhimurium (ST) on d 1. Although not significant (P > 0.05), water-soluble treated birds had lower cecal S.T. concentrations compared with the control at 4 dpi (days postinfection; P = 0.06). No differences in cecal ST concentrations were observed at 7, 14, or 21 dpi. No significant differences in prevalence of ST in the ceca, livers, or spleens between the treatments were observed at any time point. Bird weight and FCR were significantly (P < 0.05) improved in water-soluble phytogenic treated birds. For the second trial, 212 one-day-old broilers were obtained from a commercial hatchery and placed in battery cages. There were 5 replicates of 5 treatments: 1) uninfected, untreated 2) infected, untreated, 3) infected, 0.075 g/L water-soluble phytogenic, 4) infected, 0.100 g/L water-soluble phytogenic, and 5) 0.125 g/L water-soluble phytogenic. On D 3, birds were infected with 7.8×108 CFU S. Enteritidis (SE). Two dpi there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in cecal S.E. between the treatments. On 5 and 11 dpi, the birds given water-soluble phytogenic had significantly (P < 0.05) lower cecal S.E. compared with the infected controls. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in bird weights or FCR between treatments were observed. In conclusion, the addition of water-soluble phytogenic to the drinking water reduced Salmonella infection in broilers challenged with Salmonella.

Diets can influence the histomorphology of the gut of fish by either causing changes that are associated with growth promotion or causing damage that impairs fish growth. This study evaluated effects of diets with limonene and thymol on the histomorphology of the anterior intestine of Nile tilapia. A Nile tilapia diet was supplemented with different concentrations of limonene and/or thymol to form 6 diets, namely: 0 ppm limonene and thymol (Control); 400 ppm limonene (LM); 500 ppm thymol (T1); 750 ppm thymol (T2); 400 ppm limonene and 500 ppm thymol (LMT1); and lastly 400 limonene and 750 thymol (LMT2). Each diet was assessed in four tanks, each stocked with 35 fish of 1.60 g ± 0.24 and fed to satiation for 56 days. The length and number of intestinal folds, diameter of the lumen, status of lamina propria, and size of sub-mucosa were evaluated. Fish fed on diet LM and LMT1 had longer intestinal folds suggesting that diet LM and LMT1 increased the surface area covered by the intestinal folds and this is associated with increased nutrient absorption. The number of intestinal folds was not affected by the test diets. Treatment LMT1 had significantly narrow intestinal lumen potentially due to the elongated intestinal folds observed with dietary LMT1. Fish fed on diet T2 had enlarged lamina propria infiltrated with cells while the sub mucosa was larger in the anterior intestine of fish fed on diet LMT2 and the control feed. Enlarged lamina propria and intestinal sub mucosa indicate an inflammatory response and inefficient passage for blood and nutrients in the enterocytes in the intestine, potentially affecting efficient nutrient absorption. Overall, the diet with 400 ppm limonene and the dietary combination of 500 ppm thymol and 400 ppm limonene increased the surface area covered by intestinal folds indicating that they can enhance nutrient absorption in juvenile Nile tilapia.

This study evaluated the effect of reduced dietary energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) levels along with inclusion of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) on gut microbiota composition and gene expression of Toll-like receptor(s) (TLR), tight junction proteins, and inflammatory cytokines expressed in secondary lymphoid organs. Depending on dietary ME and CP level down regulation and the inclusion or not of PFA at 125 mg/kg diet, 450 one-day-old male broilers were allocated in the following 6 treatments for 42 D according to a 3 × 2 factorial design: A: diet formulated optimally to meet broiler nutrient requirements; APh: A+PFA; B: suboptimal in ME and CP levels by 3%; BPh: B+PFA; C: suboptimal in ME and CP levels by 6%; CPh: C+PFA. Diet type and PFA supplementation were shown to affect mostly the mucosa-associated microbiota compared to the luminal ones. Ileal mucosa-associated total bacteria (PD= 0.005), Lactobacillus spp. (PD= 0.003), and Clostridium cluster XIVa (PD= 0.009) were affected by diet type with broilers fed diet B having lower levels compared to broilers fed diets A or C. Moreover, diet type affected cecal mucosa-associated Lactobacillus spp. (PD= 0.002) with broilers fed diet C having lower levels compared to broilers fed diets A or B. Supplementation with PFA resulted in higher levels of cecal mucosa-associated Bacteroides (PP= 0.031), Clostridium cluster IV (PP= 0.007), and Clostridium cluster XIVa (PP= 0.039). Diet type affected TLR2 (PD= 0.046) and claudin 5 (PD= 0.027) in cecal epithelium. Lower TLR2 (PP= 0.021) and higher zonula occludens 2 (PP= 0.031) relative gene expressions were seen in ileal epithelium following PFA supplementation. Moreover, in cecal epithelium, PFA supplementation resulted in lower TLR2 (PP < 0.001) and higher zonula occludens 2 (PP= 0.009), claudin 5 (PP= 0.005) and occludin (PP= 0.039) relative gene expressions. There were no significant diet type and PFA effects on cytokines in secondary lymphoid organs, except for a dietary effect on transforming growth factor beta 4 (PD= 0.023) in cecal tonsils. In conclusion, PFA inclusion beneficially modulated elements of gut microbiota, Toll-like signaling molecules and gut tight junction genes., (© 2018 Poultry Science Association Inc.)