Phytochemistry and beneficial impacts of cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zeylanicum ) as a dietary supplement in poultry diets

Evaluating the Metabolomic Profile and Anti-Pathogenic Properties of Cannabis Species

The Cannabis species is one of the potent ancient medicinal plants acclaimed for its medicinal properties and recreational purposes. The plant parts are used and exploited all over the world for several agricultural and industrial applications. For many years Cannabis spp. has proven to present a highly diverse metabolomic profile with a pool of bioactive metabolites used for numerous pharmacological purposes ranging from anti-inflammatory to antimicrobial. Cannabis sativa has since been an extensive subject of investigation, monopolizing the research. Hence, there are fewer studies with a comprehensive understanding of the composition of bioactive metabolites grown in different environmental conditions, especially C. indica and a few other Cannabis strains. These pharmacological properties are mostly attributed to a few phytocannabinoids and some phytochemicals such as terpenoids or essential oils which have been tested for antimicrobial properties. Many other discovered compounds are yet to be tested for antimicrobial properties. These phytochemicals have a series of useful properties including anti-insecticidal, anti-acaricidal, anti-nematicidal, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. Research studies have reported excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative multidrug-resistant bacteria as well as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Although there has been an extensive investigation on the antimicrobial properties of Cannabis, the antimicrobial properties of Cannabis on phytopathogens and aquatic animal pathogens, mostly those affecting fish, remain under-researched. Therefore, the current review intends to investigate the existing body of research on metabolomic profile and anti-microbial properties whilst trying to expand the scope of the properties of the Cannabis plant to benefit the health of other animal species and plant crops, particularly in agriculture.

Role of oral phytogenic supplementation to protect cardiac, hepatic, nephrotic, and splenic oxidative stress in broiler chickens

This study investigated the effects of adding essential oils of garlic, ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon to drinking water on cardiac, hepatic, nephrotic, and splenic oxidative status of broiler chickens. A batch of 200 1-d old Arbo acre broiler chicks was administered with Control (Water: no additive), 30 ml/L of cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, or garlic essential oils in drinking water for 42 d. On day 43, three broiler chickens/replicates were sampled randomly, sacrificed, and eviscerated. The hearts, spleens, kidneys, and livers were excised and assayed for glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant activity, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation using standard protocols. In spleen broiler chickens, all additive essential oils increased (P < 0.05) total antioxidant activity. Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase significantly increased (P < 0.05) in garlic, ginger, and turmeric essential oils except cinnamon. In kidney broiler chickens, lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all the additive essential oils. Garlic, cinnamon, and ginger essential oils increased (P < 0.05) catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in kidney broiler chickens. In liver broiler chickens, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione peroxidase were higher (P < 0.05) in cinnamon essential oil than other additive essential oils. Superoxide dismutase and catalase were higher (P < 0.05) in turmeric essential oils. In heart broiler chickens, all the additive essential oils significantly decreased (P < 0.05) lipid peroxidation and increased (P < 0.05) total antioxidant activity. In conclusion, oral garlic, turmeric, and ginger essential oils supplementation did not reduce lipid peroxidation in spleen, whereas cinnamon essential oil caused lipid peroxidation in liver of broiler chickens.

Use of Cinnamon and its Derivatives in Poultry Nutrition

The recent trend toward banning the use of antibiotics in poultry feed as a growth promoter directs the scientific community to look for natural alternatives with potential growth-promoting and immunomodulating properties. Phytogenic feed additives have attracted significant attention as alternatives to antibiotics to improve growth performance and enhance immune responses. They have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and antifungal properties, depending on their chemical structure and composition. Scientists are using these non-conventional ingredients as feed additives in the form of oil or powder. Essential oils (EO) are volatile liquids produced from aromatic plants. Their application has gained momentum in controlling cholesterol as free radical scavengers, anti-microbials, antifungals, and stimulants of digestive enzymes. EO's possible antimicrobial features against harmful pathogens are primarily associated with the high content of volatile components in oils. The current chapter highlights the beneficial impact of cinnamon oil as a feed additive on poultry growth performance, meat quality, carcass traits, and its hypo-cholesterolaemic impact, antioxidant act, microbiological aspects, and immunomodulatory effects.

Herbal Plants Application in Organic Poultry Nutrition and Production

Background:

Medicinal plants and natural feed additives are the most important alternatives in animal production, especially broiler production, due to the ban on the use of certain antibiotics, their cost-effectiveness and harmful residual effects.

Objective:

In this mini-review article, some important medicinal herbs and plants with positive effects on organic broiler production have been highlighted.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted in Science Direct, Google, Google Scholar, Springer, Medline and PubMed.

Results:

Medicinal plants such as ginger, ginkgo, thyme, ponderosa pine, soybean, forsythia, peppermint, Chinese star anise, astragalus, mistletoe, schisandra, cumin, capsicum, garlic, hooker chives, artichoke, Borreria latifolia, zataria, pomegranate, turmeric, lingzhi, Lippia javanica, neem, oriental chaff flower, mulberry leaf, goji berry, Aloe vera, pumpkin, grape, common nettle, marigold, coriandrum, Citrus sinensis, Alisma canaliculatum, Persian hogweed, Eucommiaulmoides, bamboo leaf extract, rosemary, Morina citrifolia, chestnut, green tea, wild mint, clove, sumac, satureja, ashwagandha, Lonicera japonica, Acacia, liquorice, Artemisia annua, milk thistle, cinnamon, black cumin and etc. have positive effects on organic broiler production.

Conclusion:

Herbal medicines lead to increased body weight due to a higher feed intake and a higher feed conversion ratio, and improve antioxidant activity of broiler chickens based on their phenolic compound contents. The combination of medicinal herbal additives also has a positive impact on broiler production. In organic broiler production with the usage of herbal plants, reducing hormones, growth promoters and antibiotics should be organized as well as considering appropriate organic feed management and higher production.

Matlodextrin-cinnamon essential oil nanoformulation as a potent protective against titanium nanoparticles-induced oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and reproductive disturbances in male mice

Recently, bio-nanofabrication becomes one of the widest methods for synthesizing nanoparticles (NPs); however, there is scanty literature exploring the toxicity of these green NPs against living organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective role of encapsulated cinnamon oil (ECO) against titanium oxide nanoparticle (TiO2NP)-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, chromosomal aberration, and reproductive disturbances in male mice. Sixty male Balb/c mice were distributed into six groups treated orally for 3 weeks and included control group, TiO2NP-treated group (25 mg/kg b.w), ECO at low or high dose-treated groups (50 or 100 mg/kg b.w), and the groups that received TiO2NPs plus ECO at a low or high dose. The results of GC-MS revealed the isolation of 21 compounds and the majority was cinnamaldehyde. The average size zeta potential of TiO2NPs and ECO were 28.9 and 321 nm and -33.97 and -17.35 mV, respectively. TiO2NP administration induced significant changes in liver and kidney function, decreased antioxidant capacity, and increased oxidative stress markers in liver and kidney, DNA damage in the hepatocytes, the number of chromosomal aberrations in the bone marrow and germ cells, and sperm abnormalities along with histological changes in the liver, kidney, and testis. Co-administration of TiO2NPs and ECO could alleviate these disturbances in a dose-dependent manner. It could be concluded that ECO is a promising and safe candidate for the protection against the health hazards of TiO2NPs.

Effects of phytobiotic feed additives on growth traits, blood biochemistry, and meat characteristics of broiler chickens exposed to Salmonella typhimurium

Because of concerns over the use of antibiotics in poultry feed, this study was designed to determine the effectiveness of phytobiotic supplementation as an alternative to antibiotic use based on growth performance and meat characteristics of broilers exposed to Salmonella typhimurium. The effects of an antibiotic and 3 phytobiotic feed additives (PFA), Mix-Oil Mint (MO_mint), Mix-Oil Liquid (MO_liq), and Sangrovit Extra (Sang_ext), were compared. At day of age, 280 Ross chicks were randomly allocated into 6 treatments. At 15 d, all chicks except negative control were exposed to S. typhimurium. The offered 6 diets were as follows: T1, negative control; T2, infected with S. typhimurium; T3, infected + avilamycin (0.1 g/kg); T4, infected + MO_mint (0.2 g/kg); T5, infected + plant extract in liquid form MO_liq (0.25 mL/L); and T6, infected + Sang_ext (0.15 g/kg). During the cumulative starter period, PFA improved performance over that of the control, and the food conversion ratio (FCR) was lower for T3 and T5 compared with T1 (P < 0.05). During the cumulative finisher period (15–35 d), a lower body weight gain (P < 0.01) was observed in T2. T1 had the best FCR and production efficiency factor, but they were not significantly different from those of T3, T4, and T6 (P < 0.001). At 35 d, T1 and T4 had a higher breast percentage as compared with those of T2 (P < 0.05). Blood glucose decreased significantly (P > 0.05) in T2 and T5 compared with that in T1 and T4. Alanine transaminase concentration decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in T4 and T5 compared with that in T1, T2, and T3. Treatments had significant effects on breast temperature and pH (P < 0.001). A significant decrease in the myofibril fragmentation index occurred in T1 and T6. Hardness and chewiness were influenced by treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with PFA could effectively compare with that of antibiotic avilamycin in the maintenance of growth performance and improvement in meat characteristics of broilers challenged with S. typhimurium.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Oil as a Potential Alternative to Antibiotics in Poultry

The removal of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) as feed additives in poultry nutrition from the market in many countries has compelled researchers to find unconventional and safe alternatives to AGPs. Probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, organic acids, herbs, immune-stimulants and essential oils (EO) have been investigated as feed additives in poultry production. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), one of the oldest medicinal plants and widely used around the world, can be used in poultry rations in the form of powder or essential oil. Essential oils produced from aromatic plants have become more interesting owing to their potential effects as hypocholesterolaemic agents, antioxidants, antimicrobials, antifungals and stimulants of digestive enzymes. The potential insecticidal and antimicrobial activities of EO against pathogens that cause spoilage in agriculture crops and human diseases might be attributed mainly to the high content of volatile components (mainly cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and carvacrol) in cinnamon oil. The present review focuses on the effects of cinnamon oil as a feed additive on poultry performance, carcass traits, meat quality, hypocholesterolaemic impact, antioxidant activity, immunity and microbiological aspects.

Effects of dried okra fruit (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) powder on growth, carcass characteristics, blood indices, and meat quality of stored broiler meat

The present study investigated the impacts of dried okra fruit powder (DOFP), used as a natural feed supplement, on growth, carcass, blood, and meat quality parameters of broilers. A total of 240 unsexed, one-week-old chicks were randomly allotted to 4 equal groups with 6 replicates in each group (i.e., 10 birds/replicate). The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet as control, and 3 DOFP groups, supplemented with 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g DOFP/kg feed, respectively. The results showed that the highest values of live body weight and body weight gain were observed in the group with 1.0 g of DOFP/kg of feed during the fifth week of age and between 1 and 5 wk of age, respectively. During 1 to 3 wk of age, daily feed consumption of chicks fed DOFP-supplemented diets increased numerically with increasing DOFP levels. Dietary treatments significantly depressed liver, thigh, and dressing fat percentages. Chicks fed the diet containing 1.0 g of DOFP/kg of feed had the lowest values for serum urea and creatinine compared with the other treatment group. In addition, the concentration of liver enzymes decreased with increasing DOFP levels, except for the groups fed 3.0 and 1.0 g of DOFP/kg of diet. Oxidative rancidity of broiler meat samples containing DOFP in their diets was lower than that of the control samples, throughout the storage period. It can be concluded that DOFP is a useful phytogenic additive, which can lower the percentage of abdominal fat of the carcass, as well as alanine aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine in the blood. Furthermore, all sensory characteristics of the meat were improved by the addition of DOFP to broiler diets. It could be concluded that DOFP can be used as a natural supplement in broiler diets for improving growth performance and reducing abdominal fat, blood creatinine, and urea.

Effect of Housing System and Rosemary and Cinnamon Essential Oils on Layers Performance, Egg Quality, Haematological Traits, Blood Chemistry, Immunity, and Antioxidant

Simple Summary

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of a housing system, and dietary supplementation of rosemary and cinnamon essential oils on layers performance and egg quality. A factorial arrangement (2 × 3) was performed including two housing systems (floor and cage) and three different types of essential oils (0, 300 mg/kg diet of rosemary and 300 mg/kg diet of cinnamon essential oils) to study their effects on the productive performance, egg quality, immunity, oxidative stress and haematology of laying hens during the production stages. The data suggested that the supplementation of rosemary and cinnamon essential oils in laying hen diet showed significant positive effects on hen performance and egg production. Additionally, the different housing systems did not result in any positive or negative impact on these traits.

Abstract

Housing system and nutrition are non-genetic factors that can improve the well-being of animals to obtain higher quality products. A better understanding of how different housing systems and essential oils can influence the performance of layers is very important at the research and commercial levels. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of a housing system and dietary supplementation of rosemary and cinnamon essential oils on layers’ performance and egg quality. A factorial arrangement (2 × 3) was performed include two housing systems (floor and cage) and three different types of essential oils (0, 300 mg/kg diet of rosemary and 300 mg/kg diet of cinnamon essential oils) to study their effects on the productive performance, egg quality, immunity, oxidative stress and haematology of ISA brown laying hens during the production stages (from 28 to 76 weeks of age). Birds were randomly divided into two groups each comprising of 1500 birds; the first group was moved from the litter to reared laying cages while the second group was floor reared. Each group was randomly divided into three groups, the first was considered as a control group, the second treated with rosemary essential oil, and the third with cinnamon essential oil. The differences in egg production and weight, egg quality, feed intake and conversion, blood picture and chemistry, immunity, and antioxidant parameters between the different housing systems (floor and cage) were not significant at (p < 0.05 or 0.01). On the other hand, the egg production and weight, Haugh unit, feed intake and conversion, blood cholesterol, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), urea, Ca, P, immunity, and antioxidant parameters were significantly (p < 0.05 or 0.01) better in rosemary and cinnamon groups than in the control group. Furthermore, the results of dietary supplementation with rosemary and cinnamon were very close. Regarding egg production and weight, there were no significant differences due to the interactions. The differences in egg mass among the interactions were also not significant except at 68–76 weeks, where the cage × cinnamon group was the highest. Under the floor rearing system, birds that were fed a diet supplemented with or without essential oils (EOs) consumed more feed than those raised under the cage system. Regarding feed conversion rate (FCR), the differences among the interactions were not significant except at 44–52, 52–60 and 68–76 weeks, where the cage × cinnamon group was the lowest. Excluding glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (p < 0.001), all immunity and antioxidant indices were not statistically different as a consequence of the interaction among EOs and housing systems. Additionally, the highest levels of phosphorus were observed for layers fed diets enriched with cinnamon oil with the cage or floor system. In conclusion, the data suggested that supplementation of rosemary and cinnamon essential oils in laying hen diet showed significantly positive effects on hen performance and egg production. Cholesterol, liver and kidney functions, immunity, and antioxidant parameters improved with rosemary and cinnamon supplementation when compared to the control. Additionally, the different housing systems did not result in any positive or negative impact on these traits.

Use of red pepper oil in quail diets and its effect on performance, carcass measurements, intestinal microbiota, antioxidant indices, immunity and blood constituents

Plant-derived additives are used to maintain the health and growth performance of livestock. The use of red pepper oil (RPO) has recently attracted considerable scientific interest mainly due to its potential benefits for animals and humans. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with RPO on growth performance, carcass measurements, antioxidant status and immunity of growing quails between 1 and 5 weeks of age. A total of 240 growing quails (1-week old) were distributed into 5 equal groups consisting of 48 birds (4 replicates of 12 birds each). The first group was fed a basal diet without RPO (0 g/kg diet), and the second, third, fourth and fifth groups received diets containing RPO (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 g/kg diet, respectively). The experiment lasted for 5 weeks. At age of 5 weeks, quails were slaughtered for carcass examinations, microbiological analysis of intestine and to determine blood constituents. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Quails fed with 0.8 g RPO/kg diet showed 12.14%, 14.4% and 15% improvement in live BW, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, respectively, compared with the control group. Quails that received diets with 1.2 g RPO consumed more feed than the others during the total period (1 to 5 weeks). Plasma globulin levels were significantly decreased (P = 0.0102), but albumin/globulin ratio was significantly increased (P = 0.0009) in birds fed diets containing RPO (0.4 and 1.2 g/kg) compared with those in the control group. Activity of liver enzymes in the plasma was nonsignificantly decreased in quails supplemented with 0.8 g RPO/kg diet compared with those in the control group. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione and catalase) in the group fed on diets supplemented with RPO (0.8 g/kg) were significantly higher than those in the control group. The inclusion of RPO (0.8 g/kg diet) in quail diets improved (P < 0.05) plasma lipid profile and also decreased pH of the caecal content (P = 0.0280) compared with those in the control group. The caecal bacterial population, Salmonella spp., coliform and Escherichia coli, were lowered (P < 0.05) in the groups treated with RPO (0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 g/kg) compared with those in the control group. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of RPO (0.8 g/kg) can enhance the performance and antioxidant indices and decrease intestinal pathogens and thus improve the health status of Japanese quail.

Chemical Composition and in Vitro Cytotoxic Screening of Sixteen Commercial Essential Oils on Five Cancer Cell Lines

The in vitro cytotoxic activity on human cancer cell lines of sixteen commercial EOs such as Aloysia citriodora, Boswellia sacra, Boswellia serrata, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cistus ladanifer, Citrus × aurantium, Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Cymbopogon citratus, Foeniculum vulgare, Illicium verum, Litsea cubeba, Satureja montana, Syzygium aromaticum, Thymus capitatus and Thymus vulgaris was performed using the MTT reduction assay. The screening was carried out on human cancer cells of breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB-231), chronic myelogenous erythroleukemia (K562) and neuroblastoma cell lines (SH-SY5Y). C. zeylanicum and L. cubeba EOs were the most active on almost all the cell lines studied and thus could be promising as an anticancer agent. These two species showed a difference in their composition even though they belong to the Lauraceae family. Almost 57 % of the true cinnamon composition was made of (E)-cinnamaldehyde, while L. cubeba showed citral as the major compound (68.9 %). The K562 cells were the most sensitive to these oils with an IC₅₀ ranging from 5.2 parts-per million (ppm) (C. zeylanicum) to 11.1 ppm (L. cubeba). The latter oil also showed an important cytotoxicity on MDA-MB-231 (13.4 ppm).