Essential Oils In Poultry Nutrition

GOPI.M

MVN 11003(ANN)

Dept. of Animal Nutrition

Essential Oils:

A mixture of secondary metabolites – fragrant and liquid volatile compounds.

The term ‘essential’ from ‘quinta essentia’ by Paracelsus.

Term ‘essential oil’ is a poorly defined but term ‘volatile oil’ has been proposed (Hay et al., 1993).

Distribution:

Over 50 species.

Plants about 0.01 – 2% EOs. leaves - Eucalyptus,

bark - Cinnamon, flower – Oregano,

seeds - pepper.

bulbs - garlic.

Roots - ginger, or

in fruit peels - lemon, orange.

Physical properties

Posses Characteristic odors.

Obtained by Distillation.

Soluble in organic solvents.

Specific gravity (0.8-1.17) mostly lighter than water (clove & cinnamon are heavier).

Essential Oils

Scheme for Essential oils identification

0.5 ml of the oil + 2 drops of (1%) aq. FeCl3 .

Results as follows:

Biological role of essential oilsPossess Anti-microbial activity.

Provide Antioxidant property.

Assist the digestive process.

Affect the lipid metabolism.

Effect on growth performance.

Other effects – Immunomodulation.

Antimicrobial Activity:Antibiotic residue & resistance – ban on antibiotics usage.

An alternate to AGPs.

Phytobiotics (EO), approved in chicken feed in EU & USA

( Hooge, 2004).

Stimulate growth of beneficial &

limit number of pathogenic bacteria in

poultry (Wenk, 2000).

No antimicrobial activity

Antimicrobial activity only on Candida lipolytica.

Great antimicrobial activity.

Lavandin, Tea tree, Peppermint

Juniper

Cinnamon, Oregano, Thyme, Garlic

Anti-Microbial Activity:

MOA: Exact mechanism is poorly understood .

Change the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane to hydrogen (H+) and potassium (K+) ions .

Antimicrobial activity of 29 oils tested against 59 microbes.

Blends of essential oils - used to control Cl. perfringens,

EOs active against G+ve & G-ve.

hydrophobic nature -more active against G+Ve bacteria.

smaller molecular wt -also active on G-ve bacteria.

Calsamiglia et al.,2007

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, ppm) of carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and thymol

Cosentino et al., 1999

(P<0.05)

Effect of Thyme Essential Oil @1g/kg on intestinal microbial population in J. quail.

Khaksar et al.,2012

Allicin – Bacteriostatic, Candidia, Influenza virus.

Growth and biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 by A. flavus suppressed by EO.

The inhibitory effect of the oils is directly proportional to concentrations (Deabes,2011).

Calsamiglia et al.,2007

Act as effective free radicals scavengers .

It influence the SOD, glutathione peroxidase & Vit. E.

Thymol and Oregano have antioxidant activity on chicken egg & meat respectively (Lee,2004).

Antioxidant property of essential oils

Antioxidant activity: 

Due to phenolic compounds ,Flavonoids (Oregano and Thyme) & Terpenoids (thymol, carvacrol & eugenol )

Rosemary & Sage - highest antioxidant potential (Madsen et al., 1997)

Caspar Wenk, 2003

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Control Thymol 0.2 g/kg

Thymol 0.4g/kg

Thymol 0.8g/kg

Thyme oil2ml/kg

Thyme oil 4ml/kg

Thyme Oil Antioxidant Property (ORAC, μmol of TE/ml)

Hydrophilic Lipophilic Hydrophilic without protein

Serum antioxidant levels of broilers with the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay from d 16-28

Hoffman-Pennesi,2010(P<0.05)

Essential oils affect the digestion process

Essential oils favourably affect gut functions (Manzanilla et al., 2004) .

Stimulate digestive secretions, e.g. bile, mucus, enhanced enzyme activity (Platel, 2004).

Cinnamaldehyde increased bile secretion in the rat (Harada and Yano,1975).

In broilers enhance - trypsin, amylase & jejunal chyme (Jang et al.,2004 ).

Increase intestinal mucus secretion & reduced the adherence of pathogens (E. coli, Cl. perfringens) (Jamroz et al.,2006).

Blends of EOs improved digestibility in chickens (Hernandez et al.,2004).

Reduction of the intestinal viscosity (Chrubasik et al., 2005).

Better DMD, CP digestibility in grower & finisher with thyme, and rosemary (Hernandez et al.,2004).

Effects of dietary essential oils on digestive enzyme activities (units) in pancreas in broiler chickens:

Effects of essential oils on lipid metabolism

It inhibits hepatic 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA), a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis (Crowell, 1999).

Inhibition of HMG-CoA lowered serum cholesterol by 2% in poultry (Lee et al.,2003).

Oregano plus cinnamon in quail diets decreased plasma total cholesterol, TGs levels (Sarica et al., 2009).

Effect of Thyme Essential Oil @1g/kg on serum lipid profile in J. quail.

Growth performance in chickens:

Thyme oil - positive effect on broiler BWG(Cross et al.,2007) .

Thyme in J. quail @1 g/kg diet increased Bwt, improved FCR (Genedy,2003).

Effect of Thyme & Cinnamon oil on growth performance of Broilers

Al-Kassie,2009

Effect of Thyme & Cinnamon oil on blood parameters of Broilers

Effect of Thyme Essential Oil @1g/kg on body weight & cumulative feed conversion ratio in J.quail.

Khaksar et al.,2012

Essential oils in Layers:

EOM in diet increased the antioxidant level, albumen height and Haugh unit.

EOM in layer under heat stress be beneficial - egg wt and immune function (Ozek,2011).

Botsoglou, 2005

OTHER ROLES:

The nutrient-sparing, health-promoting effects & improving nutrient digestion and absorption (Jamroz et al.,2005).

Improvement in fertility & chick weight in broiler breeders.

Further research is needed for the immunomodulator effects (Cinnamon @ 1000ppm).

Factors may affect the effectiveness of EOs:

1)plant parts and their physical properties,

2) source,

3) harvest time, and

4) compatibility with the other ingredient (s) in feed (Wang et al., 1998),

Commercially available Essential Oil products:

• CRINA® Poultry Plus.

• Containing a minimum of 90% extractable, with around 10% essential oil compounds and minimum 80% benzoic acid.

• Recommended inclusion in broiler feeds.

Poultry Mg/kg feedBroilers 300

CONCLUSION :

Variation in findings among researchers.

Lack of standards on usage, efficacy, effects etc,

Experiments in commercial products or blends of phytogenic substances.

Need to explain the efficacy and MOA , dose of active compound and

Interactions with feed ingredients .

Thank u

33