1. Home
  2. Attività
  3. Attività internazionale
  4. Relazioni internazionali
  5. Cooperazione scientifica e tecnologica
  6. Accordi Bilaterali
  7. SAS - Slovak Academy of Sciences
  8. Estratti vegetali e oli essenziali come additivi per mangimi zootecnici in nutrizione animale e loro effetti sulla qualità della carne.
Progetto comune di ricerca

Estratti vegetali e oli essenziali come additivi per mangimi zootecnici in nutrizione animale e loro effetti sulla qualità della carne.

Responsabili di progetto
Francesco Gai, Iveta Placha
Accordo
REPUBBLICA SLOVACCA - SAS - Slovak Academy of Sciences
Bando
CNR-SAS 2016-2017
Dipartimento
Scienze bio-agroalimentari
Area tematica
Scienze bio-agroalimentari
Stato del progetto
Nuovo

Proposta di ricerca

The number of papers published concerning the use of essential oils (EO) and especially those containing phenolic compounds, has increased dramatically in recent years. The majority of reports are associated only with production indices (feed intake, feed conversion, weight gain). Very little information is given as to their mode of action, metabolism or generally their science-based functionality, because many reports deal with the results of commercial products. Statements on pharmacological effects or health claims are very poor (Franz et al., 2010).
Essential oils are able to scavenge some free radicals, thus playing an important role in some disease prevention such as brain dysfunction, cancer, heart disease and immune system decline. Increasing evidence suggests that these diseases may result from cellular damage caused by free radicals. In addition to their ability to scavenge free radicals, there is also evidence that some EOs develop anti-inflammatory activity. For example, chamomile EO has been used for centuries because of its anti-inflammatory properties (Kamatou and Viljoen., 2010). The anti-inflammatory activity of EOs may be attributed not only to their antioxidant activities but also to their interaction with signaling cascades involving cytokines and regulatory transcription factors, and on the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (Miguel, 2010).
Middleton et al. (2000) demonstrated in their study that flavonoids can influence the immune system by acting on various cellular pathways and key components. When oxidative stress occurs, ROS production can lead to increased prevalence of infectious disease through impaired immune cell function (Pastorelli et al., 2012). Phenolic compounds such as thymol and carvacrol contained in the leaves of thyme, possess strong antibacterial, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities (Aydin et al., 2005).
Compounds of essential oils (EO) are rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and mainly conjugated with sulfate and glucuronic acid. If the capacity for conjugation is overwhelmed at high doses, alternative metabolic routes are activated, leading to the production of reactive metabolites (EFSA 2012). These metabolites are normally detoxified but at large doses sulfhydryl groups of hepatic proteins may react with reactive metabolites, resulting in hepatic necrosis (Laskin and Pilaro 1986). To date little information is available on effective doses of EO that can strengthen animal health and can be used in animals without inducing toxic effects. More research is therefore needed in this area (Acamovic and Brooker 2005).
It is necessary keep in mind the selection of sufficient concentration of EO used as feed additive for animals. More studies are needed to define available levels of EO in animal nutrition for improving their health status.
Based on our results, we could be preparing appropriate feed additives for animals and therefore increase the efficiency and economy of animals breeding.
References

ACAMOVIC T., BROOKER J.D. (2005) Biochemistry of plant secondary metabolites and their effects in animals. Proc Nutr Soc. 64: 403-412.

AYDIN S., BASARAN A.A., BASRAN, N. (2005) The effect of thyme volatile on the induction of DNA damage by the heterocyclic amine IQ and mitomycin C. Mutation Research, 581: 43-53.

EFSA (2012) Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of phenol derivatives containing ring-alkyl, ring-alkoxy and side-chains with an oxygenated functional group (chemical group 25) when used as flavourings for all species. Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP). 10: 2573. Available from : http://dx.doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2573.

FRANZ C., BASER K.H.C., WINDISCH W. (2010) Essential oils and aromatic plants in animal feeding - a European perspective. Flavour. Frag. J. 25: 327-340.
KAMATOU G.P.P., VILJOEN A.M. (2010) A review of the application and pharmacological properties of ±-bisabolol and ±-bisabolol-rich oils. Journal of the American Oil Chemists´ Society, 87: 1-7.

MIDDLETON E., KANDASWAMI C., THEOHARIDES T.C.(2000) The effects of plant flavonoids om mammalian cells: implications for inflammation, heart disease, and cancer. Pharmacological Reviews, 52: 673-751.

MIGUEL M.G. (2010) Antioxidant and Anti-Inflamatory Activities of essential Oils: A Short Review. Molecules, 15: 9252-9287.

PASTORELLI G., ROSSI R., CORINO C. (2012) Influence of Lippia citriodora verbascoside on growth performance, antioxidant status, and serum immunoglobulins content in piglets. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 57: 312-322.

Obiettivi della ricerca

The aims of the present study will be the followings:
1. To evaluate the efficiency of dietary essential oils in laying hens and broiler chickens feeds and to observe the effective dose and maximum limit level for these animals.
2. To testing the animal intestinal integrity by physiological and biochemical assay of the enzymes related to the antioxidant status.
3. To evaluate the effects of the dietary essential oils on the poultry meat quality in terms of fatty acids composition and lipid oxidation stability.

Ultimo aggiornamento: 19/04/2024