Effects of microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on feed digestibility, intestinal mucosa, and biochemical and antioxidant parameters in broilers

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on metabolizable energy, feed digestibility, intestinal morphometric analysis, and antioxidant parameters in broilers. A completely randomized design with five treatments and eight replications of eight broilers (Cobb male) was used, and collections were carried out at 20 and 42 days of age. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde concentrations (mg/kg) were: 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improved apparent metabolizable energy but did not change protein and ether extract digestibility. Supplementation increased intestinal villus height and villi:crypt ratio; in which 100 mg/kg produced the greatest villus height. Serum uric acid levels were lower in birds receiving supplementation. Improvement in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase was observed, while lower uric acid, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species levels were observed. Microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improve apparent metabolizable energy and can be administered in broiler feed without risk to the bird’s health. These supplements may serve as alternative products to aid the performance of commercial poultry.摘要：本研究旨在评估不同添加水平的微囊化香芹酚（microencapsulated carvacrol）与肉桂醛（cinnamaldehyde）对肉鸡表观代谢能、饲料消化率、肠道形态计量指标及抗氧化参数的影响。实验采用完全随机设计，设置5个处理组，每组设8个重复，每个重复包含8只科宝（Cobb）雄性肉鸡，分别于20日龄和42日龄进行样本采集。香芹酚与肉桂醛的添加浓度（mg/kg）分别为0（对照组）、50、100、150及200。 结果显示，微囊化香芹酚与肉桂醛可提升肉鸡的表观代谢能，但对蛋白质与乙醚提取物的消化率无显著影响。饲料中添加该类物质可提高肠道绒毛高度及绒毛隐窝比值，其中100mg/kg组的绒毛高度最高。饲喂添加组的肉鸡血清尿酸水平显著降低。此外，谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（glutathione peroxidase）与谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（glutathione-S-transferase）的活性得到显著提升，同时血清尿酸、硫代巴比妥酸反应物质（thiobarbituric acid reactive substances）及活性氧（reactive oxygen species）水平显著降低。 综上，微囊化香芹酚与肉桂醛可提升肉鸡表观代谢能，且将其添加至肉鸡饲料中不会对肉鸡健康造成风险。此类添加剂可作为替代产品，用于改善商品肉鸡的生产性能。