Work

Chitosan-encapsulated lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus P.) and spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oils as growth modulators: Correlating in-vitro activity with broiler performance

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Antibiotic-growth-promoters (AGPs) used in poultry feed pose public health risks due to potential dissemination of antimicrobial-resistance genes through the food-chain. This study evaluated essential oils (EOs) from lemongrass (LG) and spearmint (SM) herbs, as alternatives to AGPs through integrated in-vitro and in-vivo assessments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified geranial (40.15%) and neral (28.17%) as principal constituents of LGEO, while D-limonene (28.96%) and carvone (47.19%) predominated in SMEO. Entrapment of EO in chitosan-sodium-tripolyphosphate matrix was observed through Fourier-Transform-Infrared-Spectroscopy, with chitosan-EO ratio 1:0.8 yielding optimal encapsulation-efficiency (EE) and loading-capacity (LC). Chitosan-coated LGEO (C-LGEO) achieved the highest EE% (73.22) and LC (18.30), whereas chitosan-coated SMEO (C-SMEO) showed EE% of 69.19% and LC of 17.36%. C-SMEO exhibiting lower MIC values (0.71–3.73 µL/mL) and wider inhibition-zones (9.23–14.13 mm) than free SMEO (0.85–4.33 µL/mL; 8.4–12.83 mm) against E. coli, S. enteritidis, S. aureus, and C. perfringens , likewise C-LGEO showed lower MIC values (1.63–8.83 µL/mL) and wider inhibition zones (6.96–10.3 mm) than free-LGEO (2.33–11.53 µL/mL; 6–7.73 mm) against the same bacteria. DPPH radical-scavenging activity at 50 µl/ml was 43.3%, 45.6%, 63.3%, and 67.5% for LGEO, SMEO, C-LGEO, and C-SMEO, respectively. A pilot in-vivo trial using 56 day-old-chicks Ross-308 male broilers across six dietary treatments (control, enramycin, and four EO groups demonstrated that C-LGEO and C-SMEO produced growth-performance comparable to antibiotic group, with feed conversion ratios of 1.62 and 1.67 and body weight gains of 2110 g and 2105 g, respectively, supporting encapsulated EOs as promising natural AGP alternatives.

Source: Veterinary and Animal Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2026.100913

Authors: Muhammad Abdullah, Saima, Shafqat Nawaz Qaisrani, Shahid Mehmood, Zafar Hayat

Institutions: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Sargodha

Language: English

Topic: Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,780