Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Phytobiotic Encapsulated Plant Extracts on Broilers’ Performance Parameters, Welfare Traits and Meat Characteristics

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants exhibit significant effects on broiler physiology and production. This trial aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with an aqueous or cyclodextrin extract derived from a mixture of Origanum vulgare L., Camelina sativa L. Crantz, Crithmum maritimum L., and Allium sativum L. at the level of 0.1% per kg of dry matter (DM) on broiler growth performance, welfare, meat chemical composition, and oxidative stability. Results: Cyclodextrin treated group presented significantly higher final body weight, while feed intake and FCR were unaffected by the treatments. Both aqueous and cyclodextrin treated groups had significantly lower pododermatitis score compared to the control group. Additionally, both treatment groups presented increased thigh meat protein content and lower fat content, likewise meat color was also positively affected by both treatments. Supplementation of broilers diet with the cyclodextrin extract also resulted in ∑n-3 fatty acids and ∑n-6 fatty acids increase. The PUFA/SFA and H/H ratios were also increased in the thigh meat of both supplemented groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: The application of aqueous or cyclodextrin extracts yielded positive results on meat composition, and supported growth performance, welfare, and the oxidative status of the chicken meat.

A phytobiotic extract, in an aqueous or in a cyclodextrin encapsulated form, added in diet affects meat oxidation, cellular responses and intestinal morphometry and microbiota of broilers

“…For example, phytobiotics should be incorporated in diets alongside other ingredients to evaluate the possible interactions between different ingredient components, as well as in diets with ingredients of different fat content for the evaluation of antioxidant activity (Vasilopoulos et al, 2022). It has already been stated that the same phytobiotic mixture in the cyclodextrin encapsulated form significantly increased the final mean body weight of broiler chickens at day 35 (final mean body weights: CONTROL 2,287.75 g; AQORGCC 2,264.5 g; and CDORGCC: 2,295.2 g), whereas feed intake and the feed conversion ratio were unaffected among the chickens fed either the CONTROL diet or a diet supplemented with the herbal mixture encapsulated in cyclodextrin/ in its aqueous form (Dokou et al, 2023).…”

Dietary Supplementation with Pomegranate and Onion Affects Lipid and Protein Oxidation in the Breast Meat, Thigh, and Liver, Cellular Stress Protein Responses, and Gene Expression of Liver Enzymes Involved in Protein Synthesis in Broilers

“…In response to numerous stimuli such as growth factors, cytokines, and environmental, dietary, and oxidative stresses, the p38 MAP kinases, the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), and the c-Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNK) are activated. They regulate miscellaneous cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, survival, and development [34,[40][41][42][43]. Furthermore, nutrient limitations may trigger apoptotic signaling, which functions as a pivotal regulator-determiner of cell survival or death through the equilibrium between anti-apoptotic proteins (e.g., the B-cell lymphoma protein 2, also known as Bcl-2) and pro-apoptotic proteins (e.g., the Bcl-2 associated death promoter protein, also known as Bad).…”

“…Furthermore, nutrient limitations may trigger apoptotic signaling, which functions as a pivotal regulator-determiner of cell survival or death through the equilibrium between anti-apoptotic proteins (e.g., the B-cell lymphoma protein 2, also known as Bcl-2) and pro-apoptotic proteins (e.g., the Bcl-2 associated death promoter protein, also known as Bad). This process promotes the removal of redundant and damaged cells to maintain homeostasis [40,44,45]. Recently, it has been made clear that the identification of genes, as well as their expression, is involved in biological processes, even interfering with feed efficiency and growth rate [46].…”