Effect of Sustained Administration of Thymol on Its Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability in Rabbits

Abstract

The objective of this study was the detection of thymol in rabbit plasma, tissues, large intestinal content, and faeces. Forty-eight rabbits were divided into control and experimental groups (thymol 250 mg/kg feed). Thymol was administered for 21 days and then withdrawn for 7 days. Concentration of thymol in the intestinal wall (IW) was significantly higher than in plasma (p < 0.05) and liver (p < 0.05); in the kidneys it was significantly higher than in plasma (p < 0.05) and liver (p < 0.05) during thymol addition. Thymol in IW was significantly higher than in plasma also after withdrawal (p < 0.01). Significant correlation (rs = −1.000, p < 0.01) between IW and plasma points to the intensive absorption of thymol from the intestine, while the correlation between plasma and liver (rs = 0.786, p < 0.05) indicates intensive biotransformation and excretion processes in liver. Significant correlation between liver and kidney (rs = 0.738, p < 0.05) confirms the intensive metabolism of thymol in the kidney. During the withdrawal period, thymol was detected above trace amounts only in faeces, and was significantly higher than in the colon during both periods (p < 0.01). Results show intensive biotransformation of thymol in the rabbit organism.

Antioxidant Activity of Different Tissues from Rabbits Fed Dietary Bovine Colostrum Supplementation

“…In rabbits, the cecum is the site of microbial fermentation, which permits the release of nutrients from ingested food, and the fermentation products are absorbed directly through the wall of the cecum or re-ingested as cecotrophs. The efficiency of the rabbit's digestion depends, primarily, on the production and ingestion of cecotrophes [34]. Another possible explanation for the lack of alteration in antioxidant enzymes' gene expression in tissues could be due to the biotransformation processes that antioxidant compounds present in BC undergo, limiting their bioavailability.…”

Nontoxic effects of thymol, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, and garlic oil on dung beetles: A potential alternative to ecotoxic anthelmintics

“…For example, the half-life of THY and CVR in the digestive tract of piglets is approximately two hours due to their fast stomach and proximal intestine absorption and renal excretion [ 37 ]. In rabbits, only trace amounts of THY were detected in feces [ 38 ]. For CIN, the quantification in this matrix is complex, so the concentrations of CIN obtained in feces may be inaccurate [ 37 ].…”

Exploring the Potential of Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. (Resurrection Tree) as a Phytogenic Feed Additive in Animal Nutrition

“…A solution to this would seem to be the use of greenhouses. Factors, such as temperature, disease (such as red spider mite infection), light intensities, soil composition and seasonal variation, and soil composition, need to be managed to improve the chemical composition of the plant in artificial conditions [ 84 ].…”