Abstract
The first objective of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of the microencapsulation technique to protect fumaric acid and thymol, avoiding their early absorption and ensuring their slow release throughout the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). For this purpose, the release of a lipid matrix microencapsulated brilliant blue (BB) was assessed in vitro, using a simulated broiler intestinal fluid, and in vivo. In vitro results showed that more than 60% of BB color reached the lower intestine, including 26.6 and 29.7% in the jejunum and ileum, respectively. The second objective was to determine the effects of microencapsulated fumaric acid, thymol, and their mixture on the performance and gut health of broilers challenged with a short-term fasting period (FP). One-day-old male ROSS 308 chickens (n = 280) were randomly distributed into seven treatments, with 10 replicates of four birds each. Dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet as negative control (NC), which was then supplemented by either non-microencapsulated fumaric acid (0.9 g/kg), thymol (0.6 g/kg), or a mixture of them. The same additive doses were also administered in a microencapsulated form (1.5 and 3 g/kg for the fumaric acid and thymol, respectively). At day 21, chickens were subjected to a 16.5-h short-term FP to induce an increase in intestinal permeability. Growth performance was assessed weekly. At day 35, ileal tissue and cecal content were collected from one bird per replicate to analyze intestinal histomorphology and microbiota, respectively. No treatment effect was observed on growth performance from day 1 to 21 (p > 0.05). Microencapsulated fumaric acid, thymol, or their mixture improved the overall FCR (feed conversion ratio) and increased ileal villi height-to-crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) (p < 0.001) on day 35 of the experiment. The microencapsulated mixture of fumaric acid and thymol increased cecal abundance of Bacteroidetes, Bacillaceae, and Rikenellaceae, while decreasing that of Pseudomonadaceae. These results indicate that the microencapsulation technique used in the current study can be useful to protect fumaric acid and thymol, avoiding early absorption, ensure their slow release throughout the GIT, and improve their effects on fasted broiler chickens.
Highlights
Intensive genetic selection has led to vast improvements in the efficiency of the poultry industry
The objectives of this study were [1] to show evidence of the progressive release of fumaric acid and thymol, as examples of organic acids (OAs) and essential oils (EOs), when these are microencapsulated in lipid matrix microparticles under in vitro and in vivo intestinal conditions; and [2] to evaluate the effect of microencapsulated fumaric acid and thymol on the performance and gut health of broiler chickens challenged with a short-term fasting period (FP)
The quantification of the in vivo release of the microencapsulated brilliant blue (BB) was not possible. The reason behind this limitation was that once mixed with the feed mostly composed of maize in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the Body weight (BW) g Day 0 Day 21 Day 28 Day 35 Average daily gain (ADG) g/day Days 0–21 Days 21–28 Days 28–35 Days 0–35 average daily feed intake (ADFI) g/day Days 0–21 Days 21–28 days 28–35 Days 0–35 feed conversion ratio (FCR) Days 0–21 Days 21–28 Days 28–35 Days 0–35
Summary
Intensive genetic selection has led to vast improvements in the efficiency of the poultry industry. The electrohydrodynamic processes used in the current study is a technique composed of two sister technologies including electrospraying and electrospinning, which provides a broad range of benefits. It is considered as an innovative, cost-effective, and one-step method that ensures the scale-up processes for high-throughput production. This energy-saving technique has recently emerged as a promising approach suitable for incorporation of heat-sensitive active compounds [24] by preserving their structure and efficacy upon processing, storage and delivery [21]. Vegetable oils included in the lipid matrix microparticles used in the current study are composed of long-chain triglycerides reported to possess a slower digestion than that of proteins and polysaccharides [25]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
