Effects of encapsulated thymol and carvacrol mixture on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function and intestinal health of broilers

This study evaluated the effect of encapsulated thymol and carvacrol mixture (ETCM) on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function and intestinal health of broilers. In total, 400 one-day-old male Arbour Acres broilers were randomly allocated to two groups with eight replicates of 25 birds each and fed a basal diet (control) or a basal diet supplemented with 150 mg/kg ETCM. The trial lasted 42 days. ETCM supplementation significantly increased (p p p p Nrf2), GSH-Px, occludin and zonula occludens-1 in the jejunal mucosa, while down-regulated (p NF-κB), interleukin 1β, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. Thus, ETCM positively impacts the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function of broilers. ETCM can also improve intestinal health which may be partially related to the activation of the Nrf2 signalling pathway and the suppression of the NF-κB signalling pathway. HIGHLIGHTSETCM improves the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function of broilers.ETCM promotes the gut health of broilers, which may be by activating the Nrf2 signalling pathway and suppressing the NF-κB signalling pathway. ETCM improves the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function of broilers. ETCM promotes the gut health of broilers, which may be by activating the Nrf2 signalling pathway and suppressing the NF-κB signalling pathway.