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. 2025 Apr 7;14(4):379.
doi: 10.3390/biology14040379.

Assessment of the Nutritional Composition, Antimicrobial Potential, Anticoccidial, and Antioxidant Activities of Arthospira platensis in Broilers

Said Dahmouni  1 , Zineb Bengharbi  1 , Djilali Benabdelmoumene  1 , Nardjess Benamar  1 , Wasim S M Qadi  2 , Esraa Adnan Dawoud Dawoud  3 , Ebtesam Al-Olayan  4 , Omar Dahimi  1 , Andres Moreno  5 , Mohd Asraf Mohd Zainudin  6 , Ahmed Mediani  2
Affiliations

Assessment of the Nutritional Composition, Antimicrobial Potential, Anticoccidial, and Antioxidant Activities of Arthospira platensis in Broilers

Said Dahmouni et al. Biology (Basel). .

Abstract

This study evaluates the chemical composition, fatty acid profiles, and bioactive properties of ethanolic (SPE), methanolic (SPM), and acetonic (SPA) extracts of Arthrospira platensis. The chemical analysis revealed a high protein content (72.08%), moderate lipid levels (6.49%), and a diverse fatty acid profile, dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids. Antibacterial testing showed that SPE exhibited the strongest activity against Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Enterobacter cloacae (ATCC 49141), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 25933), Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028), Salmonella enteritidis (ATCC 13076), Salmonella gallinarum (ATCC 9184), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). The anticoccidial activity was also significant, with SPE reducing Eimeria sp. oocyst counts in poultry intestines and ceca. Antioxidant activity was highest in SPM, which also had the highest phenolic content. LC-MS/MS profiling of the methanolic extract revealed various bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and phycobiliproteins. These results suggest that A. platensis has great potential as a nutraceutical supplement in poultry farming, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic additives.

Keywords: Arthrospira platensis; antibacterial activities; anticoccidial; antioxidants; bioactive compounds; broiler nutraceuticals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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