The nutritional applications of garlic (Allium sativum) as natural feed additives in animals

Effect of a garlic drench on Galectin gene expression in ovine whole blood

Garlic, known for its immune-modulating and antibiotic properties, contains lectins that possess antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. Galectins (Gals), which bind β-galactosides, play a role in modulating immunity and pathological processes. It is hypothesized that garlic's lectin components interfere with animal lectins. St. Croix sheep, known for their resistance to parasites and adaptability, are influenced by dietary supplements for innate immunity. This study evaluated the impact of garlic drench on Galectin gene expression in St. Croix sheep. Adult non-lactating ewes received either garlic juice concentrate or sterile distilled water for four weeks. Blood samples were collected, and plasma and whole blood cells were separated. Galectin secretion was assessed using a Sheep-specific ELISA, while Galectin gene transcription was analyzed through real-time PCR. Garlic administration upregulated LGALS-3 gene expression and significantly increased total plasma protein concentration. Garlic supplementation also affected Galectin secretion, with Gal-1, Gal-3, and Gal-9 showing differential effects.

Rumen fermentation and microbiota in Shami goats fed on condensed tannins or herbal mixture

BACKGROUND

Phytochemical compounds can modify the rumen microbiome and improve rumen fermentation. This study evaluated the impact of supplementation with tannin and an herbal mixture containing ginger (Zingiber officinale), garlic (Allium sativum), Artemisia (Artemisia vulgaris), and turmeric (Curcuma longa) on the rumen fermentation and microbiota, and histology of rumen tissue of goats. Eighteen Shami male goats were divided into three groups (n = 6): non-supplemented animals fed the basal diet (C, control); animals fed basal diet and supplemented with condensed tannin (T); and animals fed basal diet and supplemented with herbal mixture (HM). Each animal received a basal diet composed of Alfalfa hay and a concentrate feed mixture.

RESULTS

Group HM revealed higher (P < 0.05) rumen pH, total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric. Principal Co-ordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that rumen microbial communities in the control group and supplemented groups were distinct. The supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundances of phylum Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria and declined (P < 0.05) Firmicutes and Fibrobacterota. Additionally, the dominant genus Prevotella and Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group were increased (P < 0.05) and the family Ruminococcaceae was declined (P < 0.05) due to the supplementation. The supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) the archaeal genus Methanobrevibacter and increased (P < 0.05) Candidatus Methanomethylophilus. Tannin supplementation in T group shortened the rumen papillae.

CONCLUSIONS

The results revealed that the herbal mixture might be used to alter the rumen microbiota to improve rumen fermentation.

Effects of garlic powder-supplemented milk on growth and health indicators in Holstein calves

This study aimed to investigate the effects of adding different doses of garlic powder (GP) into milk on the growth and health parameters of Holstein calves. Thirty Holstein calves were randomly divided into groups as follows: control (CON), T1 (10 mg GP/kg live weight (LW)), and T2 (30 mg GP/kg LW). Four days old calves were used as animal material. The calves were weaned when they consumed 800 g of starter for 3 consecutive days. The experiment was terminated when the calves reached 8-week age. Starter and water were available ad libitum. Both GP doses significantly decreased respiratory score, the number of illness days, and diarrheal days (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant improvement was observed in the general appearance of calves that received both GP doses (p < 0.05). Garlic powder created a significant decrease in oxidative stress index at 28 days old and total oxidative status at the end of the experiment (p < 0.05). Garlic powder was not significantly effective for the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria growth at the 28-day-old and the end of the experiment. The application of 30 mg/kg LW GP significantly reduced the incidence of cases such as diarrhea and respiratory diseases, which are common during the suckling period.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Phyto-L, Thiosulfonate from Allium spp. Containing Supplement, against Escherichia Coli Strains from Rabbits

Colibacillosis, caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), is one of the most common diseases in rabbit farms, resulting in economic losses due to mortality and decrease in production. Until recently, antimicrobials were used to both treat and prevent disease on livestock farms, leading to the possible risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the selection of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Therefore, interest in alternative control methods, such as the use of natural substances, has increased in the scientific community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Phyto-L (Pro Tech s.r.l.), a product containing organosulfur compounds (OSCs) such as propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) from Allium spp., against 108 strains of E. coli isolated from rabbits with colibacillosis from 19 farms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of Phyto-L were assessed. Bacterial suspensions with a charge of 10⁸ CFU/mL, corresponding to those found in the rabbit gut under pathologic conditions, were tested with different concentrations from 20 to 0.15 μL/mL of Phyto-L. For each strain, the MIC and concentrations above the MIC were plated on Tryptic Soy agar (TSA) without Phyto-L to assess the MBCs. MIC and MBC values ranged from 1.25 to 5 μL/mL and 1.25 to 20 μL/mL, respectively, depending on the strain tested. The data showed an interesting antibacterial activity of Phyto-L against EPEC strains. Therefore, this product could be effective in preventing colibacillosis in field application, especially considering that 10⁴-10⁵ CFU/g of feces is the amount of E. coli usually found in the gut contents of rabbits under physiological condition.

Antibacterial plant combinations prevent postweaning diarrhea in organically raised piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F18

Antibiotics and zinc oxide restrictions encourage the search for alternatives to combat intestinal pathogens, including enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a major cause of postweaning diarrhea (PWD) in pigs. PWD causes important economic losses for conventional and organic farming. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with garlic and apple pomace or blackcurrant on infection indicators and the fecal microbiota of organic-raised piglets challenged with ETEC-F18. For 21 days, 32 piglets (7-weeks-old) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: non-challenge (NC); ETEC-challenged (PC); ETEC-challenged receiving garlic and apple pomace (3 + 3%; GA); ETEC-challenged receiving garlic and blackcurrant (3 + 3%; GB). ETEC-F18 was administered (8 mL; 109 CFU/ml) on days 1 and 2 postweaning. The 1st week, PC had lower average daily gain than those in the NC, GA, and GB groups (P &lt; 0.05). NC pigs showed neither ETEC-F18 shedding nor signs of diarrhea. The PC group had higher diarrhea incidence and lower fecal dry matter than NC (≈5–10 days; 95% sEBCI). The GA and GB groups showed reduced ETEC-F18 and fedA gene shedding, higher fecal dry matter, and lower diarrhea incidence than the PC (≈5–9 days; 95% sEBCI). The NC, GA, and GB had normal hematology values during most of the study, whereas the PC had increased (P &lt; 0.05) red blood cells, hemoglobin, and hematocrit on day 7. Haptoglobin and pig-MAP increased in all groups, peaking on day 7, but PC showed the greatest increase (P &lt; 0.05). The fecal microbiota of PC pigs had reduced α-diversity (day 7; P &lt; 0.05) and higher volatility (days 3–14; P &lt; 0.05). Escherichia, Campylobacter, and Erysipelothrix were more abundant in the PC than in the NC, GB, and GA groups (log2FC &gt; 2; P &lt; 0.05), whereas Catenibacterium, Dialister, and Mitsoukella were more abundant in the NC, GB, and GA than in the PC group (log2FC &gt; 2; P &lt; 0.05). Prevotella and Lactobacillus were more abundant in the GB group (log2FC &gt; 2, P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of GA and GB limited ETEC proliferation, reduced PWD, and beneficially impacted the fecal microbiota's diversity, composition, and stability.

Allicin Alleviated LPS-Induced Mastitis via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

Dairy farming is the most important economic activity in animal husbandry. Mastitis is the most common disease in dairy cattle and has a significant impact on milk quality and yield. The natural extract allicin, which is the main active ingredient of the sulfur-containing organic compounds in garlic, has anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties; however, the specific mechanism underlying its effect on mastitis in dairy cows needs to be determined. Therefore, in this study, whether allicin can reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in the mammary epithelium of dairy cows was investigated. A cellular model of mammary inflammation was established by pretreating bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) with 10 µg/mL LPS, and the cultures were then treated with varying concentrations of allicin (0, 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 µM) added to the culture medium. MAC-T cells were examined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting to determine the effect of allicin. Subsequently, the level of phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) was measured to further explore the mechanism underlying the effect of allicin on bovine mammary epithelial cell inflammation. Treatment with 2.5 µM allicin considerably decreased the LPS-induced increase in the levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inhibited activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in cow mammary epithelial cells. Further research revealed that allicin also inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitors of nuclear factor kappa-B-α (IκB-α) and NF-κB p65. In mice, LPS-induced mastitis was also ameliorated by allicin. Therefore, we hypothesize that allicin alleviated LPS-induced inflammation in the mammary epithelial cells of cows probably by affecting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Allicin will likely become an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of mastitis in cows.

Allium-Derived Compound Propyl Propane Thiosulfonate (PTSO) Reduces Vibrio Populations and Increases Body Weight of European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles

The global demand for fish products is continuously increasing as the population grows, and aquaculture plays an important role in supplying this demand. However, industrial antibiotic misuse has contributed to the spread of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria, therefore, several antibiotic alternatives have been proposed. In this study, we have analyzed the effects of Allium-derived propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) in European seabass juveniles' growth and performance. These effects were tested by measuring the body weight and analyzing the gut microbiome of fish after 89 days of feeding trial. The relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Vibrio in the foregut and hindgut of supplemented fish decreased, while Pseudomonas and Kocuria increased significantly. Alpha diversity indices significantly decreased in both gut regions of fish fed with Allium-derived PTSO supplemented diet, as well as between bacterial community composition. These results may indicate a positive effect of the supplementation in the diet with Allium-derived PTSO, reducing potentially pathogenic Vibrio and increasing body weight at the end of the experiment (89 days). However, this supplementation with Allium-derived PTSO produces changes in the diversity and composition of microbial communities, so further experiments would be necessary to explore bacterial community composition and health relationship.

Beneficial Shifts in the Gut Bacterial Community of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles Supplemented with Allium-Derived Compound Propyl Propane Thiosulfonate (PTSO)

Simple Summary

Aquaculture plays an important role in supplying global food demand and protein sources. The increasing restriction of drugs in fish production has forced this sector to carry out changes in the management of farms. Functional feed additives such as probiotics, prebiotics, and phytogenics have been proposed in order to maintain or improve productive levels and general health status of fish. In this study, we explore the effects of Allium-derived food additives in the bacterial community and growth of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles. We found that this additive produced significant changes in bacterial community of the hindgut. In this sense, this shift occurred towards a more diverse microbiota. Especially relevant is the decrease in the populations of potential pathogenic bacteria as Vibrio and Pseudomonas, while this additive enhanced Lactobacillus, a well-known beneficial genus. Our work shows that the addition of PTSO has beneficial effects on bacterial communities while keeping productive parameters on fish growth.

Abstract

This study analyzes the potential use of an Allium-derived compound, propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO), as a functional feed additive in aquaculture. Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles had their diet supplemented with this Allium-derived compound (150 mg/kg of PTSO) and were compared with control fish. The effects of this organosulfur compound were tested by measuring the body weight and analyzing the gut microbiota after 12 weeks. The relative abundance of potentially pathogenic Vibrio and Pseudomonas in the foregut and hindgut of supplemented fish significantly decreased, while potentially beneficial Lactobacillus increased compared to in the control fish. Shannon’s alpha diversity index significantly increased in both gut regions of fish fed with a PTSO-supplemented diet. Regarding beta diversity, significant differences between treatments only appeared in the hindgut when minority ASVs were taken into account. No differences occurred in body weight during the experiment. These results indicate that supplementing the diet with Allium-derived PTSO produced beneficial changes in the intestinal microbiota while maintaining the productive parameters of gilthead seabream juveniles.