Effects of encapsulated cinnamaldehyde on growth performance, intestinal digestive and absorptive functions, meat quality and gut microbiota in broiler chickens

Abstract Essential oils are potential antimicrobial alternatives and their applications in animal feeds limited due to fast absorption the upper gastrointestinal tract. This study investigated effects of encapsulated cinnamaldehyde (CIN) at 50 mg/kg or 100 on growth performance, organ weights, meat quality, intestinal morphology, jejunal gene expression, nutrient digestibility, ileal cecal microbiota. A total 320 male day-old broiler Cobb-500 chicks were randomly allocated four treatments with eight pens per treatment (10 birds pen): 1) basal diet (negative control, NC); 2) supplemented 30 avilamycin premix (positive PC); 3) CIN (EOL); 4) (EOH). Despite fed EOH tended increase (P = 0.05) pH 24 h, all values normal. Similar PC group, meats from EOL showed a reduced < Warner–Bratzler force shear (WBFS) compared NC group. The highest villus crypt ratios (VH/CD; P observed broilers either EOH, an average 14.67% 15.13% duodenum 13.58% jejunum, respectively. For expressions, only six out 11 studied genes statistically significant differences among dietary treatments. Gene expressions cationic amino acid transporter 1 (CAT-1) neutral (B0AT-1) upregulated EOH-fed NC-fed 0.05), respectively; while expression proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was downregulated EOL-fed when 0.05). Nonetheless, cadherin (CDH-1), zonula occludens (ZO-1), maltase-glucoamylase (MG) PC-fed birds. apparent digestibility (AID) dry matter, crude protein, fat 18 tested acids increased 0.01). Additionally, relative abundances (%) Proteobacteria decreased, Lactobacillus In conclusion, improved quality gut health by reducing WBFS, increasing VH/CD intestines, AID nutrients beneficial microbiota composition.