Effects of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) essential oil and chronic heat stress on growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum biochemistry, antioxidant enzyme activity, and intestinal microbiology in broiler chickens

Preparation and Characterization of Cumin Essential Oil Nanoemulsion (CEONE) as an Antibacterial Agent and Growth Promoter in Broilers: A Study on Efficacy, Safety, and Health Impact

This research characterized and explored the effect of cumin essential oil nanoemulsion (CEONE) on broiler growth performance, serum biochemistry, hematological parameters, and cecal microbial count. Day-old (n = 96) broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to six treatments with five replicates of three broilers each. The dietary treatments consisted of negative control (only basal diet), positive control (basal diet + 200 µL of enrofloxacin), 25 µL (basal diet + 25 µL of CEONE), 50 µL (basal diet + 50 µL of CEONE), 75 µL (basal diet + 75 µL of CEONE), and 100 µL (basal diet + 100 µL of CEONE). The broiler's body weight gain (BWG) after 42 days of treatment exhibited increased weight in the CEONE group (976.47 ± 11.82-1116.22 ± 29.04). The gain in weight was further evidenced by the beneficial microbe load (107 log) compared to the pathogenic strain. All the biochemical parameters were observed in the normal range, except for a higher level of HDL and a lower LDL value. This safety has been validated by pKCSM toxicity analysis showing a safe and highly tolerable dose of cuminaldehyde. In conclusion, this research observed the potential of CEONE as a multifunctional agent. It is a valuable candidate for further application in combating bacterial infections and enhancing animal health and growth.

Effects of essential oils on heat-stressed poultry: A review

While certain animal species are sensitive to heat stress, poultry particularly modern breeds, are more susceptible to high ambient temperatures. This has major implications for the poultry industry, as heat stress causes large financial losses. These economic losses will probably increase as a consequence of a predicted rise in global temperatures. Heat stress adversely affects various aspects of poultry, including physiological responses, growth and production performance, meat quality, egg quality, and reproductive activities. These effects occur through specific molecular and metabolic pathways. To mitigate the impacts of heat stress, it is crucial to go beyond administrative practices and implement dietary interventions during high ambient temperature. Such interventions aim to optimize the development of stressed bird species in terms of performance, health, and profitability. Essential oils have shown promising in mitigating the negative effects of heat stress and improved antioxidant status, growth and yield performance, as well as meat and egg quality in poultry. They actively participate in certain metabolic and molecular pathways that help to counteract the effects of heat stress. The article discusses the impacts of essential oil supplementation on the relationships between antioxidant enzyme activity, these molecular, and metabolic pathways, as well as various parameters such as growth and yield performance, and product quality heat-stressed poultry.

Alterations of intestinal mucosal barrier, cecal microbiota diversity, composition, and metabolites of yellow-feathered broilers under chronic corticosterone-induced stress: a possible mechanism underlying the anti-growth performance and glycolipid metabolism disorder

This study aimed to explore alterations in growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorders, intestinal mucosal barrier, cecal microbiota community, and metabolites in a chronic corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress (CCIS) broiler model. Results showed that compared with control (CON) broilers, in CCIS broilers: (i) the final body weight (BW), BW gain, and average daily gain were significantly reduced. (ii) The glycolipid metabolism disorder and impairement of intestinal immune barrier and physical barrier function were observed. (iii) Diversity and richness of cecal microbiota were obviously increased. From phylum to genus level, the abundances of Firmicutes and Faecalibacterium were significantly decreased, while the abundances of Proteobacteria, RuminococcaceaeUCG-005, and Escherichia coli (Shigella) were significantly increased. Microbial network analysis and function pathways prediction showed that cecal microbiota was mainly concentrated in translation, metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and endocrine system. (iv) The main differential metabolites identified include steroids and their derivatives, amino acids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates; among which 37 metabolites were significantly upregulated, while 27 metabolites were significantly downregulated. These differential metabolites were mainly enriched in pathways related to steroid hormone biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. (v) Correlation between cecal microbiota and glycolipid metabolism indexes showed that BW and total cholesterol (TC) were positively correlated with Christensenellaceae_R.7_group and Escherichia_Shigella, respectively. Furthermore, the downregulated Faecalibacterium and Christensenellaceae were negatively correlated with the upregulated differentially expressed metabolites. These findings suggested that CCIS altered cecal microbiota composition and metabolites, which led to glycolipid metabolism disorder and impaired the nutritional metabolism and immune homeostasis, providing a theoretical basis for efforts to eliminate the harm of chronic stress to human health and animal production.

IMPORTANCE

The study aimed to determine the influence of altered intestinal mucosal barrier, cecum flora community, and metabolites on anti-growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorders of chronic corticosterone (CORT)-induced stress (CCIS) broilers. Compared with control (CON) broilers, in CCIS broilers: (i) anti-growth performance, glycolipid metabolism disorder, and impaired intestinal immune barrier and physical barrier function were observed. (ii) From phylum to genus level, the abundances of Firmicutes and Faecalibacterium were decreased; whereas, the abundances of Proteobacteria, RuminococcaceaeUCG-005, and Escherichia coli (Shigella) were increased. (iii) Differential metabolites in cecum were mainly enriched in steroid hormone biosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. (iv) Body weight (BW) and total cholesterol (TC) were positively correlated with Christensenellaceae_R.7_group and Escherichia_Shigella, respectively, while downregulated Faecalibacterium and Christensenellaceae were negatively correlated with upregulated metabolites. Our findings suggest that CCIS induces anti-growth performance and glycolipid metabolism disorder by altering cecum flora and metabolites, providing a theoretical basis for efforts to eliminate the effect of chronic stress on human health and animal production.

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds accelerates wound healing in rats: Possible molecular mechanisms

Wound healing is a complex, intricate, and dynamic process that requires effective therapeutic management. The current study evaluates the wound healing potentials of methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. seeds (CCS) in rats. Sprague Dawley (24) rats were distributed into four cages, wounds produced on the back of the neck, and received two daily topical treatments for 14 days: A, rats received normal saline; B, wounded rats treated with intrasite gel; C and D, rats received 0.2 mL of 250 and 500 mg/kg of CCS, respectively. After that, wound area and closure percentage were evaluated, and wound tissues were dissected for histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical examinations. Acute toxicity trials of methanolic extract of CCS showed the absence of any physiological changes or mortality in rats. CCS application caused a significant reduction in wound size and a statistically elevated percentage of wound contraction than those of vehicle rats. CCS treatment caused significant up-regulation of collagen fiber, fibroblasts, and fewer inflammatory cells (inflammation) in granulation tissues. TGF-β1 (angiogenetic factor) was significantly more expressed in CCS-treated rats in comparison to normal saline-treated rats; therefore, more fibroblasts transformed into myofibroblasts (angiogenesis). CCS-treated rats showed remarkable antioxidant potentials (higher SOD and CAT enzymes) and decreased MDA (lipid peroxidation) levels in their wound tissue homogenates. Hydroxyproline amino acid (collagen) was significantly up-regulated by CCS treatment, which is commonly related to faster wound closure area. The outcomes suggest CCS as a viable new source of pharmaceuticals for wound treatment.

Rye-grass-derived probiotics alleviate heat stress effects on broiler growth, health, and gut microbiota

The primary aim of this study was to assess the impact of liquid (S-LAB) and lyophilized (L-LAB) probiotics sourced from Rye-Grass Lactic Acid Bacteria on broilers experiencing heat stress. The study involved 240 broiler chicks divided into six groups. These groups included a negative control (Control) with broilers raised at a normal temperature (24 °C) on a basal diet, and positive control groups (S-LAB and L-LAB) with broilers under normal temperature receiving a lactic acid bacteria supplement (0.5 mL/L) from rye-grass in their drinking water. The heat stress group (HS) comprised broilers exposed to cyclic heat stress (5-7 h per day at 34-36 °C) on a basal diet, while the heat stress and probiotic groups (S-LAB/HS and L-LAB/HS) consisted of broilers under heat stress supplemented with the rye-grass-derived lactic acid bacteria. Results indicated that heat stress without supplementation (HS) led to reduced body weight gain, T3 levels, citrulline, and growth hormone levels, along with an increased feed conversion ratio, serum corticosterone, HSP70, ALT, AST, and leptin levels. Heat stress also negatively impacted cecal microbiota, decreasing lactic acid bacteria (LABC) while increasing E. coli and coliform bacteria (CBC) counts. Probiotic supplements (S-LAB/HS and L-LAB/HS) mitigated these effects by enhancing broilers' resilience to heat stress. In conclusion, rye grass-derived S-LAB and L-LAB probiotics can effectively support broiler chickens under heat stress, promoting growth, liver function, hormonal balance, gut health, and cecal microbiome ecology. These benefits are likely mediated through improved gut health.

Heat stress exposure cause alterations in intestinal microbiota, transcriptome, and metabolome of broilers

Introduction

Heat stress can affect the production of poultry through complex interactions between genes, metabolites and microorganisms. At present, it is unclear how heat stress affects genetic, metabolic and microbial changes in poultry, as well as the complex interactions between them.

Methods

Thus, at 28  days of age a total of 200 Arbor Acres broilers with similar body weights were randomly divided into the control (CON) and heat stress treatment (HS). There were 5 replicates in CON and HS, respectively, 20 per replication. From the 28-42  days, the HS was kept at 31 ± 1°C (9:00-17:00, 8 h) and other time was maintained at 21 ± 1°C as in the CON. At the 42nd day experiment, we calculated the growth performance (n = 8) of broilers and collected 3 and 6 cecal tissues for transcriptomic and metabolomic investigation and 4 cecal contents for metagenomic investigation of each treatment.

Results and discussion

The results indicate that heat stress significantly reduced the average daily gain and body weight of broilers (value of p < 0.05). Transcriptome KEGG enrichment showed that the differential genes were mainly enriched in the NF-kB signaling pathway. Metabolomics results showed that KEGG enrichment showed that the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in the mTOR signaling pathway. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing results indicated that heat stress increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes. Multi-omics analysis showed that the co-participating pathway of differential genes, metabolites and microorganisms KEGG enrichment was purine metabolism. Pearson correlation analysis found that ornithine was positively correlated with SULT1C3, GSTT1L and g_Lactobacillus, and negatively correlated with CALB1. PE was negatively correlated with CALB1 and CHAC1, and positively with g_Alistipes. In conclusion, heat stress can generate large amounts of reactive oxygen and increase the types of harmful bacteria, reduce intestinal nutrient absorption and antioxidant capacity, and thereby damage intestinal health and immune function, and reduce growth performance indicators. This biological process is manifested in the complex regulation, providing a foundational theoretical basis for solving the problem of heat stress.