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Review
. 2018 Jun;4(2):179-186.
doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2018.01.005. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Potential of essential oils for poultry and pigs

Hengxiao Zhai  1 , Hong Liu  1 , Shikui Wang  1 , Jinlong Wu  1 , Anna-Maria Kluenter  2
Affiliations
Review

Potential of essential oils for poultry and pigs

Hengxiao Zhai et al. Anim Nutr. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

The increasing pressure of abolishing and/or decreasing the use of antibiotics as antimicrobial growth promoters for livestock calls for alternative solutions to sustain the efficiency of current livestock production. Among the alternatives, essential oils have a great potential and are generally considered natural, less toxic, and free from residues. Essential oils have been proven in numerous in vitro studies to exert antimicrobial effects on various pathogens. The current review touched on the basics of essential oils, and the in vivo effects of essential oils on growth, intestinal microflora, anti-oxidation, immune functionality, meat qualities as well as the possible modes of action in poultry and pigs, and the future research areas were proposed.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Chickens; Essential oils; Pathogens; Pigs.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Linear relationship between the amount of total phenols and antioxidant capacity, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) of infusates of 70 medicinal plants, r = 0.9825. (Source: Katalinic et al., 2006; reprinted with permission from authors).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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