Comparative Efficacy of Plant Extracts and Probiotics on Growth and Gut Health in Chickens with Necrotic Enteritis

Comparative Efficacy of Plant Extracts and Probiotics on Growth and Gut Health in Chickens with Necrotic Enteritis

Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by <i>Clostridium perfringens</i>, represents a major economic challenge to poultry production. This study evaluated the effects of four plant extracts—<i>Astragalus</i>, pomegranate peel, <i>Sophora flavescens</i>, and <i>Art...

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Main Authors: Ruiting Zhang, Jia Yang, Qingjie Wang, Dandan Hu, Qiping Zhao, Shunhai Zhu, Yu Qiao, Fanghe Zhao, Zhongchuang Wang, Jinwen Wang, Yu Yu, Hongyu Han, Lili Hao, Hui Dong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
plant extracts
necrotic enteritis
antibiotic alternatives
chicken
growth performance
intestinal health
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/22/3312
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Summary:Necrotic enteritis (NE), caused by <i>Clostridium perfringens</i>, represents a major economic challenge to poultry production. This study evaluated the effects of four plant extracts—<i>Astragalus</i>, pomegranate peel, <i>Sophora flavescens</i>, and <i>Artemisia annua</i>—in combination with <i>B. subtilis</i>, as potential antibiotic alternatives for controlling NE. Using an experimentally induced NE model produced by coinfection with <i>Eimeria maxima</i> and <i>C. perfringens</i>, 288 chickens were divided into 12 groups to assess growth performance, intestinal lesions, and inflammatory markers. Compared with the enramycin group, the pomegranate peel extract group had a 9.9% increase in body weight gain (BWG), significant enhancement in <i>claudin-2</i> expression, and reduced production of inflammatory factors. Compared with the infected control group, the combination of <i>A. annua</i> extract and <i>B. subtilis</i> resulted in the lowest intestinal lesion scores. The <i>claudin-2</i>, <i>occludin</i>, and zonula occludens-1 expression levels in the group treated with <i>S. flavescens</i> extract combined with <i>B. subtilis</i> increased to the highest levels compared to those in the healthy control group. These findings emphasize the potential of plant extracts, particularly pomegranate peel and <i>A. annua</i> with <i>B. subtilis</i>, as natural alternatives for NE management in poultry, providing a promising approach to reducing reliance on antibiotics.
ISSN:2076-2615

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