Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens

Antibiotic resistance has become a global health concern, driving the need for sustainable alternatives in animal husbandry. This study explores the potential of natural feed additives as a viable solution to enhance poultry growth and health while reducing reliance on antibiotics. Chinese herbal me...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lin Sun, Zhijun Wang, Shidi Qin, Chunhong Liang, Ayong Zhao, Ke He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1262
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850275340010651648
author Lin Sun
Zhijun Wang
Shidi Qin
Chunhong Liang
Ayong Zhao
Ke He
author_facet Lin Sun
Zhijun Wang
Shidi Qin
Chunhong Liang
Ayong Zhao
Ke He
author_sort Lin Sun
collection DOAJ
description Antibiotic resistance has become a global health concern, driving the need for sustainable alternatives in animal husbandry. This study explores the potential of natural feed additives as a viable solution to enhance poultry growth and health while reducing reliance on antibiotics. Chinese herbal medicines and probiotics have been widely studied as green, healthy, and safe antibiotic alternatives in livestock and poultry production. A total of 120 chickens were randomly divided into four groups: a control group and three treatment groups supplemented with 1% <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i> powder, 3% fresh <i>Acer truncatum</i>, or 1% <i>Clostridium butyricum</i>. The results showed that <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i> powder significantly increased gamma-glutamylcysteine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), tyramine (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and leucine (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Acer truncatum</i> notably altered cecal metabolites, including L-tyrosine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), α-ketoisovaleric acid (<i>p</i> < 0.01), myristoleic acid (<i>p</i> < 0.01), glutathione (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and PGA1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> modified cecal metabolites such as L-glutamine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), riboflavin (<i>p</i> < 0.05), L-Carnitine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), ergocalciferol (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and α-tocotrienol (<i>p</i> < 0.05).
format Article
id doaj-art-a9f869d0be0249ecaaf94b3ef9ecc099
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-2615
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Animals
spelling doaj-art-a9f869d0be0249ecaaf94b3ef9ecc0992025-08-20T01:50:45ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-04-01159126210.3390/ani15091262Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in ChickensLin Sun0Zhijun Wang1Shidi Qin2Chunhong Liang3Ayong Zhao4Ke He5Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaKey Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaKey Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaKey Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaKey Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaZhejiang Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Animal Health Inspection & Internet Technology, College of Animal Science and Technology & College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, ChinaAntibiotic resistance has become a global health concern, driving the need for sustainable alternatives in animal husbandry. This study explores the potential of natural feed additives as a viable solution to enhance poultry growth and health while reducing reliance on antibiotics. Chinese herbal medicines and probiotics have been widely studied as green, healthy, and safe antibiotic alternatives in livestock and poultry production. A total of 120 chickens were randomly divided into four groups: a control group and three treatment groups supplemented with 1% <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i> powder, 3% fresh <i>Acer truncatum</i>, or 1% <i>Clostridium butyricum</i>. The results showed that <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i> powder significantly increased gamma-glutamylcysteine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), tyramine (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and leucine (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Acer truncatum</i> notably altered cecal metabolites, including L-tyrosine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), α-ketoisovaleric acid (<i>p</i> < 0.01), myristoleic acid (<i>p</i> < 0.01), glutathione (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and PGA1 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> modified cecal metabolites such as L-glutamine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), riboflavin (<i>p</i> < 0.05), L-Carnitine (<i>p</i> < 0.05), ergocalciferol (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and α-tocotrienol (<i>p</i> < 0.05).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1262chickenantibiotic alternativesgut microbiotatraditional Chinese medicine
spellingShingle Lin Sun
Zhijun Wang
Shidi Qin
Chunhong Liang
Ayong Zhao
Ke He
Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens
Animals
chicken
antibiotic alternatives
gut microbiota
traditional Chinese medicine
title Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens
title_full Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens
title_fullStr Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens
title_full_unstemmed Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens
title_short Preliminary Multi-Omics Insights into Green Alternatives to Antibiotics: Effects of <i>Pulsatilla chinensis</i>, <i>Acer truncatum</i>, and <i>Clostridium butyricum</i> on Gut Health and Metabolic Regulation in Chickens
title_sort preliminary multi omics insights into green alternatives to antibiotics effects of i pulsatilla chinensis i i acer truncatum i and i clostridium butyricum i on gut health and metabolic regulation in chickens
topic chicken
antibiotic alternatives
gut microbiota
traditional Chinese medicine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/9/1262
work_keys_str_mv AT linsun preliminarymultiomicsinsightsintogreenalternativestoantibioticseffectsofipulsatillachinensisiiacertruncatumiandiclostridiumbutyricumionguthealthandmetabolicregulationinchickens
AT zhijunwang preliminarymultiomicsinsightsintogreenalternativestoantibioticseffectsofipulsatillachinensisiiacertruncatumiandiclostridiumbutyricumionguthealthandmetabolicregulationinchickens
AT shidiqin preliminarymultiomicsinsightsintogreenalternativestoantibioticseffectsofipulsatillachinensisiiacertruncatumiandiclostridiumbutyricumionguthealthandmetabolicregulationinchickens
AT chunhongliang preliminarymultiomicsinsightsintogreenalternativestoantibioticseffectsofipulsatillachinensisiiacertruncatumiandiclostridiumbutyricumionguthealthandmetabolicregulationinchickens
AT ayongzhao preliminarymultiomicsinsightsintogreenalternativestoantibioticseffectsofipulsatillachinensisiiacertruncatumiandiclostridiumbutyricumionguthealthandmetabolicregulationinchickens
AT kehe preliminarymultiomicsinsightsintogreenalternativestoantibioticseffectsofipulsatillachinensisiiacertruncatumiandiclostridiumbutyricumionguthealthandmetabolicregulationinchickens