Search Results (256)

The intensification of global pig production has increased the pressure to reconcile productivity with animal health, food safety, and environmental sustainability. Phytogenic feed additives (PFAs)—plant-derived compounds including essential oils, oleoresins, phenolics, and polyphenol-rich extracts—have emerged as candidate alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters, with reported benefits of variable consistency for gut health, oxidative status, reproductive performance, and mycotoxin mitigation across the pig production cycle. In parallel, the pig sector is under increasing scrutiny for its environmental footprint, driving the adoption of circular economy (CE) principles and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies to quantify and reduce resource use and emissions. This narrative review synthesizes published evidence on the zootechnical, physiological, and health-related effects of phytogenics in swine, identified through literature searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). It examines how their production, sourcing, and use intersect with circular economy strategies—particularly the valorization of agro-industrial by-products as phytogenic sources—and with the LCA-based evaluation of pig production systems. No specific study was identified through the search described that directly measured the environmental footprint of phytogenic feed additive use; the health/performance benefits of phytogenics and the environmental benefits of by-product substitution in pig diets are each independently well supported, but their combined net environmental effect remains unknown, and not all phytogenics originate from by-products; this review integrates the two bodies of evidence into a testable hypothesis—that phytogenics, via reduced morbidity/mortality and, where by-product-derived, circular sourcing, may contribute to a lower environmental footprint, rather than a demonstrated outcome. We regard phytogenics as a promising, mechanistically grounded candidate—rather than a confirmed lever—for reducing the environmental footprint of pig production and propose a concrete LCA methodology to test this hypothesis directly. Full article

Evaluating the in vivo systemic tolerance of phytogenic feed additives is a crucial prerequisite before their widespread application in vulnerable newborn ruminants. This study aimed to investigate the systemic effects of orally administered cold-pressed Nigella sativa oil on the hematological and biochemical profiles of neonatal lambs (0–45 days of age) fed exclusively on colostrum and maternal milk. The pre-specified primary endpoint was the absence of clinically meaningful change in hepatorenal markers and complete blood count between groups over 45 days. Thirty-two single-born Merino lambs were divided into a treatment group that received 1.5 mL/day of the oil for the first 15 days of life and an untreated control group. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 7, 21, and 45 to evaluate both immediate and carry-over physiological effects. Using a covariate-adjusted linear mixed-effects model to account for baseline variances, the results demonstrated that the oil was physiologically well-tolerated. The supplementation exerted no significant adverse effects (p > 0.05) on hepatorenal markers or the measured acute-phase protein. The supplementation maintained neonatal energy metabolism stability without inducing artificial lipid suppression in serum triglycerides or total cholesterol levels. Furthermore, the oil preserved hematological homeostasis without negatively impacting red blood cell indices and modulated platelet distribution width indices without causing pathological thrombocytosis. In conclusion, the early direct oral administration of N. sativa oil is a physiologically well-tolerated supplement that supports basal metabolic and hematological stability in pre-ruminant lambs without inducing systemic disruptions within the parameters measured. Full article

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad., a drought-tolerant member of the Cucurbitaceae family, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and has recently attracted increasing interest because of its potential pharmacological, agricultural, and ecological applications. This review examines current information on the plant’s distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical composition, biological activities, applications in poultry, and ecological significance. Its bioactive constituents include cucurbitacins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, glycosides, fatty acids, and tocopherols. These compounds have been associated with anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and other biological activities, although most of the available evidence comes from in-vitro and preclinical studies. Initial findings also indicate that the plant may have value as a phytogenic feed additive in poultry and as a drought-tolerant species for soil stabilization, rangeland rehabilitation, and desertification control. However, the practical application of these findings is still constrained by differences in research methods, variation in phytochemical composition, limited clinical evidence, and the plant’s narrow therapeutic window and dose-dependent toxicity. Consequently, its therapeutic effectiveness and suitability for routine agricultural use cannot yet be established with certainty. Future research should focus on phytochemical standardization, quality control, thorough toxicological assessment, mechanistic studies, and well-designed clinical and animal trials using standardized preparations. Collectively, the available evidence indicates that C. colocynthis is a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical, veterinary, and ecological applications, although rigorous scientific validation is required before its safe and effective utilization can be recommended. Full article

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the probiotic Zoovit LL—alone or in combination with a phytogenic blend—on bone morphometry and mineral concentrations in broilers by computed tomography (CT) and ICP-MS analysis. A total of 180 one-day-old male ROSS 308 chicks were randomly assigned to three groups with three replicates of 20 chicks each: control (standard diet), Zoovit LL (0.25%) and Zoovit LL (0.25%) in combination with Silybum marianum, Urtica dioica and Taraxacum officinale in a total amount of 1%. After 42 days, two birds were averaged within each replicate, resulting in three independent experimental units per treatment (n = 3 per group). Femurs were examined by CT for bone length, cortical bone thickness, diameters and radiodensity, while determination of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium concentrations in the sternum was performed by ICP-MS. No statistically significant effects of the nutritional supplements were found on the bone parameters assessed by computed tomography or on the mineral concentrations in the sternum. The results show that under the conditions of the present study, the addition of the probiotic alone or in combination with the phytogenic mixture did not lead to statistically significant changes in the specific parameters studied. Full article

Increasing antimicrobial resistance and restrictions on antibiotic use in poultry have drawn attention to phytogenic products as a complementary approach for controlling enteric bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a phytogenic product (Herba Top Salmonella, HTS) on selected cultivable intestinal bacterial populations, intestinal histomorphology and tissue distribution of Salmonella Typhimurium in experimentally infected broiler chickens. A total of sixty one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (10 birds/group; two pens/group, five birds/pen, with the pen considered the experimental unit. Birds in three groups were experimentally challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium, and HTS was administered in drinking water for 14 consecutive days at two nominal concentrations (3 mL/L and 6 mL/L). Intestinal microbiological parameters, histomorphometric characteristics, and the presence of Salmonella Typhimurium in tissues by immunohistochemistry were evaluated. The effects of infection status, HTS concentration, and their interaction were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. HTS administration was associated with reduced counts of total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae counts. In experimentally infected broilers, HTS treatment was also associated with reduced Salmonella Typhimurium in intestinal tissue and significant changes in intestinal histomorphometric parameters, including increased crypt depth and mitotic activity. The observed responses were influenced by both infection status and the HTS nominal concentration. Because of the limited number of independent experimental units and the absence of individual HTS intake measurements, these findings should be considered exploratory preliminary findings, and further studies with larger animal groups under commercial production conditions are required. Full article

This study evaluated whether chlorogenic acid (CGA) attenuates hepatic injury in broilers under high stocking density (HSD). A total of 216 experimental male Arbor Acres broilers were assigned to normal density without CGA (ND; 14 birds/m²), high density without CGA (HD; 22 birds/m²), normal density with 0.1% CGA (NDCGA), or high density with 0.1% CGA (HDCGA) groups, with six cages per treatment. CGA was supplied from day 7 to 42. At 42 d, live-weight densities were 35.00, 50.25, 34.48, and 49.38 kg/m², respectively. Compared with their corresponding normal-density groups, the high-density groups had lower body weights at 21, 28, 35, and 42 d, and lower average daily gain (ADG) during days 21–42 (p < 0.05), whereas CGA did not significantly alter body weight or ADG within either stocking density (p > 0.05). At 35 and 42 d, the HD group had lower hepatic T-AOC, SOD, and CAT activities and higher MDA content than the ND group (p < 0.05). Compared with the HD group, the HDCGA group had higher T-AOC and CAT activities and lower MDA content at both ages, and higher SOD activity at 42 d (p < 0.05). Qualitative histological and transcript-level alterations were evident at 28 d. Compared with HD, the HDCGA group showed treatment-associated shifts in AMPK, SREBP1, ACACA, PLA2G4A, COX-2, ALOX5, and NOX5 mRNA abundance (p < 0.05). Under the experimental conditions, 0.1% CGA was associated with partial attenuation of HSD-related hepatic oxidative, lipid-metabolic, and inflammatory disturbances without a significant growth response. Full article

(1) Background: The global transition away from antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) requires effective, sustainable alternatives to maintain broiler performance and intestinal homeostasis. This study evaluated the effects of dietary wild thyme powder, administered alone or combined with a prebiotic or probiotic, as potential AGP alternatives on growth performance, serum oxidative status, immune response, cecal microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, ileal histomorphometry, and intestinal barrier integrity in broilers. (2) Methods: Five hundred forty-six male Ross 308 chicks were assigned to seven treatments (n = 13 replicates/group) for 28 d: T1 (basal diet); T2 (0.5 g/kg antibiotic Neoxyval); T3 (1.0 g/kg thyme); T4 (0.75 g/kg prebiotic); T5 (0.50 g/kg probiotic); T6 (prebiotic + thyme); and T7 (probiotic + thyme). Growth performance was measured, and one bird from each replicate was randomly sampled at 28 d for multi-endpoint biological analyses. (3) Results: Birds that received T3 to T7 had increased final body weight and weight gain. Cumulative feed conversion ratio was improved in the T3, T5, and T7 groups, with T7 displaying numerical superiority over individual additive groups without reaching statistical synergy. All-natural supplements (T3, T5, T6, T7) lowered serum malondialdehyde and enhanced interferon-γ. Birds receiving T6 showed increased tumor necrosis factor-α, whereas birds receiving T3 and T4 showed reduced levels. Probiotic-inclusive diets (T5 and T7) significantly increased cecal propionic acid, total SCFAs, and ileal villus surface area. Natural additive treatments broadly promoted cecal eubiosis by increasing Lactobacillus spp. while decreasing Clostridium spp. Crucially, combining thyme with prebiotics (T6) or probiotics (T7) synergistically upregulated ileal tissue occludin concentrations. (4) In conclusion, under the conditions of this trial, dietary supplementation with wild thyme powder, a MOS/β-glucan prebiotic, and a Bacillus licheniformis probiotic, particularly the thyme + probiotic combination, was an effective regimen for supporting growth performance, cecal eubiosis, and ileal barrier integrity in healthy broilers. However, these findings are limited to a single dose level (1.0 g/kg thyme), a single plant source, and non-challenged conditions; further research incorporating dose–response evaluations, disease-challenge models, and diverse phytogenic origins is necessary to confirm broader field applicability. Full article

This study evaluated the physiological and production responses of broilers to a phytogenic nutritional additive (PNA) applied under different dietary nutrient matrix credit strategies. The PNA contained star anise essential oil, thyme essential oil, and Quillaja saponaria Molina stem and leaf powder, with trans-anethole, p-cymene, and thymol as the main characterized marker compounds. A total of 384 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were assigned to four treatments (eight replicates of 12 birds): a basal control diet without PNA (CON) and PNA-supplemented diets using full matrix credit (PNA-FM), protein matrix credit (PNA-PM), or no matrix credit (PNA-NM). Growth performance was unaffected (p > 0.05), whereas all PNA-supplemented groups had higher dressed percentages and eviscerated yields than CON (p < 0.01). PNA-PM and PNA-NM increased the muscle pH (p < 0.01), and PNA-NM increased drip loss and shear force (p < 0.05). Intestinal responses were time-dependent: on day 14, PNA-NM increased serum FITC-d, tended to increase DAO activity, and downregulated ZO-1 expression, while all PNA-containing treatments reduced the villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (p < 0.01), suggesting a transient epithelial adjustment rather than direct barrier improvement. On day 22, qualitative TEM observations suggested closer epithelial junctions in PNA-containing treatments. These results indicate that PNA-containing formulation strategies did not compromise growth performance and modified carcass traits, meat quality traits, intestinal responses, and the excreta nutrient composition. Because PNA-free full matrix and protein matrix control diets were not included, these findings should be interpreted as responses to complete dietary strategies rather than as formal PNA × nutrient matrix interactions. Full article

Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) is a plant-derived feed additive rich in steroidal saponins, polyphenols, and polysaccharides, with demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and ammonia-binding properties. This review systematically synthesizes the major bioactive components, core mechanisms of action, including modulation of the Nrf2/ARE and NF-κB pathways, regulation of ruminal fermentation and ammonia-nitrogen metabolism, and maintenance of intestinal barrier integrity, and the species-specific application effects of YSE in pigs, poultry, ruminants, and aquatic animals. Most studies have shown that YSE can improve growth performance, reproductive efficiency, and product quality while concurrently reducing ammonia and methane emissions. However, the magnitude and consistency of these benefits vary considerably across species, dosage, and experimental conditions, with most evidence derived from controlled trials rather than commercial-scale validation. By integrating cross-species dose–response data and identifying critical knowledge gaps, including product standardization, long-term safety, and economic feasibility under commercial conditions, this review provides a theoretical and practical foundation for the evidence-based application of YSE as a sustainable feed additive. In the context of global efforts to reduce antibiotic use and mitigate environmental pollution from livestock production, YSE represents a promising, multifunctional tool for advancing ecological and low-carbon animal husbandry. Full article

Mycotoxin contamination of cereal-based pig feeds is a persistent threat to swine health and global pork safety. Pigs are uniquely susceptible to mycotoxicosis, and the principal toxins—aflatoxins (AFs), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (FUMs), and ochratoxin A (OTA)—cause impaired growth, reproductive failure, hepato- and nephrotoxicity, immunosuppression, and carry-over residues in edible tissue. Anti-mycotoxin feed additives, including mineral adsorbents, biotransforming agents, and multicomponent mycotoxin-detoxifying agents (MMDAs) combining clays, phytogenic antioxidants (curcumin, silymarin), and postbiotics (yeast cell wall, hydrolyzed yeast), constitute the primary mitigation strategy. Beyond animal health, these agents play underappreciated roles in both the circular economy (CE)—enabling safe valorization of by-product feed ingredients and reducing feed waste—and in the life cycle assessment (LCA) sustainability profile of pork production, where feed conversion ratio (FCR) drives 22–95% of greenhouse gas emissions. Field-based in vivo studies in sows and weaned piglets, integrating plasma oxidative stress biomarkers (TBARS, protein carbonyls, total antioxidant capacity) with performance and reproductive endpoints, provide the most comprehensive real-world evidence for MMDA efficacy to date. This review synthesizes mycotoxin toxicology, anti-mycotoxin agent mechanisms, clinical evidence, and the CE/LCA sustainability framework, proposing integrated mycotoxin management as a One Health imperative in modern swine production. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Zanthoxylum armatum DC. ‘Jiuyeqing’ leaf extract (ZBLE) in laying hens. A total of 1024 healthy 41-week-old Lohmann Pink layers were assigned to four treatments with eight replicates of 32 hens and fed diets containing 0, 2, 4, or 6 g ZBLE/kg for 8 weeks. The results showed that laying rate significantly increased linearly during weeks 1–4 and 1–8 (p = 0.009 and 0.005, respectively), and the 6 g/kg group had a higher laying rate than the control group (CON) over weeks 1–8 (p = 0.026). Yolk color score increased (p < 0.001), and serum immunoglobulin M concentration increased significantly (p = 0.007), whereas serum biochemical parameters remained unchanged. Serum total antioxidant capacity and total superoxide dismutase activity and hepatic total antioxidant capacity and catalase activity increased significantly, whereas serum malondialdehyde decreased. Intestinal responses were segment-specific, with increased duodenal villus height, alongside greater jejunal crypt depth and a lower jejunal villus-to-crypt ratio at 6 g/kg. Hepatic metabolomic comparison between the CON and 6 g/kg groups indicated that glycerophospholipid metabolism was the most strongly enriched pathway. Overall, 6 g ZBLE/kg produced the most favorable response among the tested levels and may serve as a plant-based feed additive for laying hens. Full article

The impact of essential oils on amino acid metabolism in relation to the rumen fermentation outcomes and adaptation to a solid diet is not well documented. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of an essential oil blend (EOB; contains cinnamaldehyde, capsicum, curcumin, and saponin) on growth performance, rumen fermentation, and serum amino acids of weaned growing calves. Sixteen weaned Holstein calves were blocked by body weight (100 ± 6 kg), and randomly allotted into: 1—CON group (n = 8; received 0% EOB), and 2—EOB group (n = 8; received 0.5 g of the EOB/Kg dry matter for 60 d, sex was used to balance the groups, so each group has 4 male and 4 female calves, but it is not the main scope of this study. Growth performance, rumen fermentation, and serum amino acids were assessed. Growth performance was not affected by treatment. Rumen pH decreased, and valeric acid, acetate, and propionate levels were increased. Serum leucine was reduced, and aspartate increased. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis identified alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism as the most affected metabolic pathway. In conclusion, supplementation with this EOB did not impact growth performance, despite its impact on rumen fermentation and blood amino acids in weaned Holstein calves. This study indicates that phytogenic supplementation may contribute to metabolic modulation during the post-weaning period through modulation of amino acid-associated metabolic pathways. Full article

Perilla seed extract (PSE), a natural resource rich in α-linolenic acid and flavonoids, represents a promising dietary strategy to sustainably optimize rumen fermentation and improve the nutritional profile of ruminant meat. This study evaluated the effects of dietary PSE supplementation on rumen fermentation, microbiome–metabolome profiles, and subsequent meat quality in Tan lambs. Sixty 3-month-old male Tan lambs were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (n = 15 per treatment) containing 0% (CON), 0.01% (LPSE), 0.03% (MPSE), or 0.05% (HPSE) PSE on a dry matter (DM) basis. In the rumen, the 0.03% PSE inclusion increased the propionate proportion from 20.50% to 23.80% (P-linear = 0.004) and carboxymethyl cellulase activity from 12.45 to 14.85 U/mL (P-linear = 0.007; P-quadratic = 0.045). Exploratory metagenomics showed that 0.03% PSE enriched Prevotella (18.67% to 21.06%) and Ruminococcus_E (1.20% to 2.13%), while decreasing the biohydrogenating genus Butyrivibrio compared with CON (LDA > 2, p < 0.05). These microbial shifts were accompanied by the accumulation of beneficial metabolites (e.g., small peptides and itaconic acid) and up-regulation of the pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis pathway. Consequently, the 0.03% PSE diet optimized meat quality, decreasing shear force by 12.7% (from 45.65 to 39.85 N; P-linear = 0.005, P-quadratic = 0.018) and drip loss (from 4.82% to 3.85%; P-linear = 0.022, P-quadratic = 0.015), while increasing redness (P-linear = 0.012, P-quadratic = 0.045). Furthermore, it increased meat C18:3n-3 (from 0.62% to 0.91%) and total n-3 PUFA (from 1.12% to 1.52%), while decreasing the n-6/n-3 ratio from 6.76 to 5.13 (P-linear ≤ 0.005 for all). Flavor amino acids also increased (P-linear = 0.008). These findings suggest that 0.03% PSE supplementation potentially improves lamb meat quality by favorably modulating rumen fermentation and microbe-metabolite interactions, highlighting its promise as a natural feed additive, though further validation is warranted. Full article

Coccidiosis is one of the most economically important parasitic diseases in poultry, causing intestinal damage, impaired nutrient utilization, and substantial production losses. The extensive use of anticoccidial drugs has raised concerns regarding drug resistance, chemical residues in poultry products, and the environmental burden associated with veterinary drug use, highlighting the need for complementary control strategies. This study evaluated the anticoccidial efficacy of phytogenic formulations containing Curcuma longa and Piper longum extracts prepared using a solid-dispersion technique designed to enhance the dissolution characteristics of poorly water-soluble phytogenic compounds. The in vitro activity of the formulations was evaluated against mixed Eimeria spp. field-isolated oocysts using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine ultrastructural alterations, whereas in vivo efficacy was investigated in broiler chickens experimentally challenged with Eimeria tenella. Cecal lesion scores, oocyst shedding, and growth performance were evaluated as indicators of infection severity and treatment response. SEM observations revealed marked structural damage to mixed Eimeria spp. oocysts following exposure to the phytogenic formulations. In the animal trial, all phytogenic treatment groups exhibited lower cecal lesion scores and reduced oocyst shedding than the infected control group. Among the phytogenic formulations evaluated, the combination containing 6 g/kg P. longum (T3) tended to produce the lowest numerical lesion score and oocyst shedding, although differences among phytogenic treatments were limited. Although some treatment groups also exhibited numerically favorable growth performance under challenge conditions, these observations should be interpreted cautiously because the study was designed primarily as a preliminary evaluation of anticoccidial efficacy, and feed intake and feed conversion ratio were assessed without independent pen-level replication. The observed biological responses may be associated, in part, with the improved dissolution characteristics afforded by the solid-dispersion formulation; however, this proposed mechanism was not directly investigated in the present study. In conclusion, solid-dispersion formulations containing C. longa and P. longum extracts demonstrated promising anticoccidial activity against experimental E. tenella infection and support further investigation as promising phytogenic candidates for complementary coccidiosis control strategies in broiler chickens. Full article

The paper examines the morphodynamic development of reed-dominated phytogenic shores of the Dniprovsko–Buzky Liman, the largest river-mouth system in the northwestern Black Sea region. Based on field observations and analysis of Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery acquired during 1985–2025, the spatial distribution of phytogenic shores, long-term dynamics of the external vegetation boundary, and moisture characteristics of the depositional substrate were investigated. The results revealed the predominance of progradational trends accompanied by pronounced spatial heterogeneity of morphodynamic processes. Variations in surface moisture were analyzed as an indirect indicator of substrate conditions potentially associated with long-term phytogenic shore development. The obtained results suggest that phytogenic shores should be considered complex biogeomorphological systems whose evolution is controlled by the interaction of hydrodynamic, lithodynamic and biotic factors. Full article