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Feidantsis K, Panteli N, Bousdras T, Gai F, Gasco L, Antonopoulou E. Dietary Tenebrio molitor larvae meal effects on cellular stress responses, antioxidant status and intermediate metabolism of Oncorhynchus mykiss. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2024. [PMID: 38657021 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
In the context of evaluating the impact of environmentally friendly and sustainably produced alternative protein sources in fish feed, the present study's aim was to examine the overall physiological stress response in one of the main fish species of European freshwater aquaculture, Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout), following the partial substitution of fish meal (FM) with a Tenebrio molitor (TM) (yellow mealworm) full-fat meal. In total, 222 rainbow trout individuals (115.2 ± 14.2 g) were allocated randomly into six tanks, three per dietary treatment, and were fed a formulated diet containing 60% yellow mealworm (TM60) compared to a control diet without insect meal (TM0). Both diets contained equal amounts of crude protein, dry matter and, lipid content, while the FM in TM60 was 100 g kg-1 corresponding to the one seventh of the TM0. Heat shock response (HSR), MAPK signalling, cell death pathways (apoptosis and autophagy), antioxidant defence mechanisms, and intermediate metabolism were evaluated. In general, HSR and MAPK signalling were activated in response to the inclusion of T. molitor. Moreover, triggering of apoptotic and autophagic processes and the onset of antioxidant defence mechanisms underlined the existence of physiological stress. Despite the apparent dietary-induced stress, rainbow trout in the present study exhibited no mortality and no significant effects regarding growth performance parameters. Specifically, TM60 dietary inclusion resulted in no changes in final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate. However, feed intake depicted a statistically significant decrease in TM60 fish compared to TM0 individuals. Nevertheless, nutrient stress should be considered a limiting factor regarding the utilization of T. molitor in O. mykiss diet due to the associated risks for health and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Feidantsis
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, University of Patras, Mesolonghi, Greece
| | - Nikolas Panteli
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Thomas Bousdras
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Francesco Gai
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Grugliasco, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Laura Gasco
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Efthimia Antonopoulou
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Donadelli V, Di Marco P, Mandich A, Finoia MG, Cardinaletti G, Petochi T, Longobardi A, Tibaldi E, Marino G. Effects of Dietary Plant Protein Replacement with Insect and Poultry By-Product Meals on the Liver Health and Serum Metabolites of Sea Bream ( Sparus aurata) and Sea Bass ( Dicentrarchus labrax). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:241. [PMID: 38254412 PMCID: PMC10812684 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver health of Gilthead sea bream and European sea bass, fed with fish meal-free diets, including various proportions of plant proteins, as well as insect and poultry by-product meals, was investigated through biochemical and histological analyses using a new liver index (LI) formula. Four isoproteic (45% Dry Matter, DM) and isolipidic (20% DM) diets were compared, including a plant-based control diet (CV) and three other test diets, in which 40% of a plant protein-rich ingredient mixture was replaced with meals from Hermetia illucens (H40) or poultry by-product (P40) alone, or in combination (H10P30). The trials lasted 12 and 18 weeks for sea bream and sea bass, respectively. The results obtained thus far highlighted species-specific differences in the physiological response to dietary changes. In sea bream, the biochemical and histological responses suggest favorable physiological and liver health statuses, with higher serum cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TAG) levels, as well as moderate hepatocyte lipid accumulation, with the H10P30 diet compared to the CV (p < 0.05). In sea bass, all diets resulted in elevated serum TAG levels and lipid accumulation in the liver, particularly in fish fed the P40 one (p < 0.05), which resulted in the highest LI, coupled with a higher frequency of severe lipid accumulation, hypertrophy, cord loss, peripheral nuclei displacement, and pyknosis. In conclusion, sea bream adapted well to the test diets, whereas sea bass exhibited altered hepatic lipid metabolism leading to incipient liver steatosis, likely due to the high lipid contents of the diets, including the insect and poultry meals. The LI formula developed in this study proved to be a reliable tool for assessing the effects of dietary changes on the liver health of sea bream and sea bass, consistent with biochemical and histological findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Donadelli
- Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy; (V.D.); (M.G.F.); (T.P.); (A.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Patrizia Di Marco
- Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy; (V.D.); (M.G.F.); (T.P.); (A.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Alberta Mandich
- Interuniversity Consortium INBB—Biostructures and Biosystems National Institute, 00136 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Grazia Finoia
- Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy; (V.D.); (M.G.F.); (T.P.); (A.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Gloriana Cardinaletti
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (Di4A), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Tommaso Petochi
- Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy; (V.D.); (M.G.F.); (T.P.); (A.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Alessandro Longobardi
- Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy; (V.D.); (M.G.F.); (T.P.); (A.L.); (G.M.)
| | - Emilio Tibaldi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (Di4A), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (G.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Giovanna Marino
- Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), 00144 Rome, Italy; (V.D.); (M.G.F.); (T.P.); (A.L.); (G.M.)
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Antonopoulou E, Kolygas M, Panteli N, Gouva E, Kontogeorgiou P, Feidantsis K, Chatzopoulos A, Bitchava K, Zacharis C, Bonos E, Giannenas I, Skoufos I, Andreadis SS, Skoulakis G, Athanassiou CG, Nathanailides C. Breeding Substrate Containing Distillation Residues of Mediterranean Medicinal Aromatic Plants Modulates the Effects of Tenebrio molitor as Fishmeal Substitute on Blood Signal Transduction and WBC Activation of Gilthead Seabream ( Sparus aurata). Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2537. [PMID: 37570345 PMCID: PMC10417334 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This work assesses the dietary use of two insect meals of Tenebrio molitor (TM) larvae reared in conventional (TM-10) or MAP-enriched substrates (MAP-TM-10) as fish meal replacements (10%) in the diets of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Fish (n = 4500; 207.19 ± 1.47 g) were divided into three groups with triplicates: control (fed conventional diet), TM-10, and MAP-TM-10 groups. The fish were reared in floating cages for 12 weeks and the dietary effects on white blood cell activation, heat shock proteins, MAPKs, and apoptosis of the fish were evaluated. The MAP-TM-10 group exhibited the highest eosinophilic induction. Phosphorylated levels of p38 MAPK, p44/42 MAPK, HSP70, and HSP90 increased in the TM-10 and MAP-TM-10 groups. In terms of apoptosis, Bax levels were lower in the TM groups compared to the control, and the MAP-TM-10 group showed even lower levels than the TM-10 group. Bcl-2 levels increased in the TM-10 group compared to the control, and further increased in the MAP-TM-10 group. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, an apoptosis indicator, decreased in the TM groups, with the MAP-TM-10 group showing a further decrease compared to TM-10. These findings suggest that insects' breeding substrate being enriched with MAPs modulated the effect of TM on cellular stress and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthimia Antonopoulou
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Markos Kolygas
- Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 47100 Arta, Greece; (M.K.)
| | - Nikolas Panteli
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Gouva
- Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 47100 Arta, Greece; (M.K.)
| | - Panagiota Kontogeorgiou
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Feidantsis
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, University of Patras, 26504 Messolonghi, Greece
| | - Achilleas Chatzopoulos
- Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Bitchava
- Laboratory of Applied Hydrobiology, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece
- Skaloma Fishery [A.C], 46300 Sagaida, Greece
| | - Christos Zacharis
- Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 47100 Arta, Greece; (M.K.)
| | - Eleftherios Bonos
- Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 47100 Arta, Greece; (M.K.)
| | - Ilias Giannenas
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Skoufos
- Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 47100 Arta, Greece; (M.K.)
| | - Stefanos S. Andreadis
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DEMETER”, 57001 Thermi, Greece
| | - Georgios Skoulakis
- AgriScienceGEO, Melpomenis Str. P.O. Box 60561, Industrial Area of Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Christos G. Athanassiou
- Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, 38446 Nea Ionia, Greece
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Moulistanos A, Karaiskou N, Gkagkavouzis K, Minoudi S, Drosopoulou E, Ioannidou C, Panteli N, Zografou S, Karaouglanis D, Kotouzas D, Kontodimas D, Antonopoulou E, Triantafyllidis A. Genetic Identification and Traceability of Insect Meals. INSECTS 2023; 14:610. [PMID: 37504616 PMCID: PMC10380534 DOI: 10.3390/insects14070610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Insects have been proposed as a rich alternative source of protein for the partial or total replacement of fishmeal in aquaculture. For maximum safety and effectiveness of insect meals, control of the quality composition of these products is considered mandatory. The aim of this study was the genetic analysis of the composition of commercially available insect meals at the species level. Commercially available Hermetia illucens, Tenebrio molitor and Musca domestica individuals, as well as nine insect meals produced from these species, were analyzed. The genetic identification of insects at the species level was based on a COI fragment, and analysis of the insect meals' composition was performed with the processes of cloning and colony PCR. Genetic analysis indicated that the commercially available larvae morphologically identified as Musca domestica belonged to the species Muscina stabulans. In the commercially available insect meals, no other animal species was identified beyond the expected one. However, in the insect meal produced for research purposes, fungal growth was detected. The used methodology, herein, allows for the qualitative genetic identification of insect meals and could be included in the methods of traceability of products containing insects and other animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristotelis Moulistanos
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Genomics and Epigenomics Translational Research (GENeTres), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikoleta Karaiskou
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Genomics and Epigenomics Translational Research (GENeTres), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Gkagkavouzis
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Genomics and Epigenomics Translational Research (GENeTres), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Styliani Minoudi
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Genomics and Epigenomics Translational Research (GENeTres), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Elena Drosopoulou
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Chrysanthi Ioannidou
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikolas Panteli
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stella Zografou
- Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Economics, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Damianos Karaouglanis
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Genomics and Epigenomics Translational Research (GENeTres), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kotouzas
- Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Kifissia, 14561 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kontodimas
- Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Benaki Phytopathological Institute, Kifissia, 14561 Athens, Greece
| | - Efthimia Antonopoulou
- Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandros Triantafyllidis
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Genomics and Epigenomics Translational Research (GENeTres), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Guerreiro I, Castro C, Serra CR, Coutinho F, Couto A, Peres H, Pousão-Ferreira P, Corraze G, Oliva-Teles A, Enes P. Feeding Yellow Worms to Meagre: Effects on Whole-Body Fatty Acid Profile and Hepatic and Intestine Oxidative Status. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12051031. [PMID: 37237897 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12051031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary inclusion of Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow worms) meal (TM) on meagre fish (Argyrosomus regius) whole-body fatty acids (FA) profile and hepatic and intestine oxidative status. For that purpose, fish were fed for 9 weeks a fishmeal-based diet (control) or diets including 10%, 20%, or 30% TM. With the increase in dietary TM level, whole-body oleic acid, linoleic acid, monounsaturated FA, and n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) increased while saturated FA (SFA), n-3 PUFA, n-3 long chain-PUFA, SFA:PUFA ratio, n3:n6 ratio, and FA retention decreased. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities increased and catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities decreased with dietary TM inclusion. Hepatic total and reduced glutathione were lower in fish fed 20% TM. Intestinal CAT activity and oxidized glutathione increased and GPX activity decreased with dietary TM inclusion. Intestine SOD, G6PDH, and GR activities increased and malondialdehyde concentration decreased in fish fed the diets with lower TM inclusion levels. Liver and intestine oxidative stress index and liver malondialdehyde concentration were unaffected by dietary TM. In conclusion, to avoid major whole-body FA changes or antioxidant status imbalances, it is recommended to limit TM to 10% inclusion in meagre diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Guerreiro
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Carolina Castro
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Cláudia R Serra
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Ed. FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipe Coutinho
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Ana Couto
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Ed. FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Helena Peres
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Ed. FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pousão-Ferreira
- Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), Olhão Pilot Aquaculture Station, Av. 5 de Outubro, s/n, 8700-305 Olhão, Portugal
| | - Geneviève Corraze
- INRAE, University Pau & Pays Adour, E2S UPPA, UMR1419 NUMEA, 64310 Saint-Pee-sur-Nivelle, France
| | - Aires Oliva-Teles
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Ed. FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Enes
- CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Ed. FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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Dokou S, Mellidou I, Savvidou S, Stylianaki I, Panteli N, Antonopoulou E, Wang J, Grigoriadou K, Tzora A, Jin L, Skoufos IA, Giannenas I. 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. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2023.1050170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The present trial examined the effects of diet supplementation with an extract including Greek oregano, garlic, rock samphire, and camelina, administered either in aqueous form or encapsulated in cyclodextrin, on broiler chickens. The duration of the trial was 35 days. Mixed broiler chicks (Ross-308, 120 individuals, 1 day old) were randomly allocated to one of three groups, each with four replicates. Control group A (CONTROL) was fed a basal diet consisting of maize and soybean. The diet of the AQORGCC and CDORGCC groups was further supplemented with aqueous and cyclodextrin-encapsulated herbal extracts, respectively. Levels of lipid and protein oxidation were determined in breast and thigh meat samples. Furthermore, to address cellular stress and signaling responses, the expression patterns of heat shock proteins (Hsp60, Hsp70, and Hsp90), mitogen-activated protein kinases (P38 and P44/42 MAPKs), and apoptotic-related proteins (Bcl-2/Bad ratio) were investigated in breast and thigh tissues using Western blot analysis. The intestinal morphometry of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum was also assessed. To investigate ileal and cecal bacterial community diversity, 16S rRNA gene high-throughput amplicon sequencing on the V3–V4 hypervariable region was performed. The results showed that the herbal extract in cyclodextrin delayed meat lipid oxidation. According to the protein expression patterns, the formulated diets elicited tissue-specific cellular responses. Compared with the CONTROL group, dietary supplementation with the encapsulated form resulted in significant Hsp induction and MAPK activation, whereas, in the group whose diet was supplemented with the aqueous form, the expression of most of the examined proteins decreased or was maintained at a constant level. Villus height and lamina propria width were mostly affected by the aqueous herbal extract, whereas the number of goblet cells remained unchanged among the groups. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota were the major phyla in mean relative abundance in all diets in both cecal and ileal samples. Alpha-diversity indices highlighted higher species richness and diversity in the cecum than in the ileum, as well as in chicks treated with the aqueous extract of the herbal mixture, but only in the cecum. Cecal beta-diversity differed between the cyclodextrin and the CONTROL groups, while ileal beta-diversity varied only between the aqueous-treated group and the CONTROL group. In conclusion, the dietary mixtures of herbal extracts (particularly those encapsulated in cyclodextrin) improved protein and lipid oxidation and increased the number of beneficial lactic acid-producing bacteria in the cecum, whereas the aqueous herbal extract mostly affected bacterial activity in the proximal part of the chicken intestine. Similarly, intestinal morphometry in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum was mostly affected by the aqueous herbal extract, which seems to inhibit proteins associated with stress signaling in meat.
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