Undergraduate Program in Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Animal Science, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
Anim Health Res Rev. 2023 Jun;24(1):1-11. doi: 10.1017/S1466252322000093. Epub 2023 Jul 4.
Several countries have shown an increased prevalence of drug resistance in animal production due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and antiparasitics in human and veterinary medicine. This article aims to review existing methods using naturally occurring essential oils (EOs) and their isolated compounds (EOCs) as alternatives to antimicrobials and antiparasitic compounds in animal production and, consequently, to avoid resistance. The most-reported mechanism of action of EOs and EOCs was cell membrane damage, which leads to the leakage of cytoplasmic content, increased membrane permeability, inhibition of metabolic and genetic pathways, morphologic changes, antibiofilm effects, and damage to the genetic material of infections. In parasites, anticoccidial effects, reduced motility, growth inhibition, and morphologic changes have been reported. Although these compounds regularly show a similar effect to those promoted by traditional drugs, the elucidation of their mechanisms of action is still scarce. The use of EOs and EOCs can also positively influence crucial parameters in animal production, such as body weight gain, feed conversion rate, and cholesterol reduction, which also positively impact meat quality. The application of EOs and EOCs is enhanced by their association with other natural compounds or even by the association with synthetic chemicals, which has been found to cause synergism in their antimicrobial effect. By reducing the effective therapeutical/prophylactic dose, the chances of off-flavors – the most common issue in EO and EOC application – is greatly mitigated. However, there is very little work on the combination of EOs and EOCs in large studies. In addition, research must apply the correct methodology to properly understand the observed effects; for example, the use of only high concentrations may mask potential results obtained at lower dosages. Such corrections will also allow the elucidation of finer mechanisms and promote better biotechnologic use of EOs and EOCs. This manuscript presents several information gaps to be filled before the use of EOs and EOCs are fully applicable in animal production.
由于在人类和兽医医学中滥用抗生素和抗寄生虫药，一些国家在动物生产中出现了耐药性增加的情况。本文旨在综述现有方法，即使用天然存在的精油（EOs）及其分离化合物（EOCs）作为动物生产中抗生素和抗寄生虫化合物的替代品，从而避免耐药性的产生。EOs 和 EOCs 报道最多的作用机制是细胞膜损伤，导致细胞质内容物泄漏、膜通透性增加、代谢和遗传途径抑制、形态变化、抗生物膜效应以及感染遗传物质损伤。在寄生虫中，已报道了抗球虫作用、运动能力降低、生长抑制和形态变化。尽管这些化合物通常表现出与传统药物相似的作用，但它们的作用机制的阐明仍然很少。EOs 和 EOCs 的使用也可以积极影响动物生产中的关键参数，如体重增加、饲料转化率和胆固醇降低，这也对肉质产生积极影响。EOs 和 EOCs 的应用可以通过与其他天然化合物的联合使用甚至与合成化学品的联合使用得到增强，这已经发现它们在抗菌效果上具有协同作用。通过减少有效治疗/预防剂量，可以大大降低产生异味的可能性——这是 EO 和 EOC 应用中最常见的问题。然而，在大型研究中很少有关于 EOs 和 EOCs 联合应用的工作。此外，研究必须采用正确的方法来正确理解所观察到的效果；例如，仅使用高浓度可能会掩盖在较低剂量下可能获得的潜在结果。这些修正还将有助于阐明更精细的机制，并促进 EOs 和 EOCs 的更好生物技术应用。本文提出了在 EOs 和 EOCs 完全适用于动物生产之前需要填补的几个信息空白。
