Thymol-carvacrol supplementation in broilers: impact on performance, blood biomarkers, and gut health

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Published: Mar 23, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63369/ijat.2025.21.2.741-752
Keywords:
Phytobiotics Oxidative stress substances Pro-inflammatory cytokine Intestinal morphology

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Tiyaprasertkul, P.
Department of Animal Production Technology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand, Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology: (AG-BIO/MHESI), Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Phungkeha, P.
Department of Animal Production Technology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
Srikijkasemwat, K.
Department of Animal Production Technology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
Philatha, A.
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Rassmidatta, K.
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Ruangpanit, Y.
Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
Siwapirunthep, P.
Department of Agricultural Education, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
Yan, F.
Novus International, Inc. 17988 Edison Ave, Chesterfield, Missouri 63005, United States
Romero-Sanchez, H.
Novus International, Inc. 17988 Edison Ave, Chesterfield, Missouri 63005, United States
Chaosap, C.
Department of Agricultural Education, Faculty of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand

Abstract

The stress conditions are induced by a high-dose live coccidiosis vaccine, and thymol-carvacrol supplementation in broilers were significantly improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the starter and grower phases as compared to the negative control. In contrast, antibiotic supplementation resulted in better growth performance throughout the rearing period. In addition, antibiotic supplementation lowered serum levels of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) and the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17), with thymol-carvacrol supplementation showing comparable but less pronounced effects, followed by the negative control. In addition, antibiotic supplementation improved intestinal morphology as evidenced by the decreased crypt depth and increased villus height to crypt depth ratio, followed by thymol-carvacrol supplementation compared to the non-supplemented groups. These results suggest that thymol-carvacrol supplementation can improve the gut health and performance of broilers under stress conditions.

Article Details

How to Cite
Tiyaprasertkul, P., Phungkeha, P., Srikijkasemwat, K., Philatha, A., Rassmidatta, K., Ruangpanit, Y., Siwapirunthep, P., Yan, F., Romero-Sanchez, H., & Chaosap, C. (2025). Thymol-carvacrol supplementation in broilers: impact on performance, blood biomarkers, and gut health. International Journal of Agricultural Technology, 21(2), 741–752. https://doi.org/10.63369/ijat.2025.21.2.741-752
Issue
Vol. 21 No. 2 (2025): March
Section
Original Study
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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