Biology
December 13, 2019

Could functional oils solve the antibiotic resistance problem?

Antibiotics have traditionally been used to control disease in farmed animals, such as broiler chickens and cattle. However, with the rise in antibiotic resistance, many countries have banned the use of antibiotics in this way. Dr Joan Torrent and his colleagues at Oligo Basics, of Cascavel, Paraná, Brazil, are investigating novel alternatives to antibiotics. They are focusing their efforts on plant-derived functional oils. A mix of castor oil and cashew nut-shell liquid has been shown to effectively combat bacterial infections in broiler chickens.

Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have revolutionised the treatment of disease. Innumerable lives have been saved by the ability of antibiotics to eliminate bacterial infections. Now, though, antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a growing problem. The issue has been well-reported in humans; infections such as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are often called “superbugs” by the media, due to their resistance to common antibiotics. However, antibiotic resistance is also on the increase in farmed animals.

The conditions in which some farmed animals are raised lead to a heightened risk of bacterial infection. This is particularly true of animals such as broiler chickens, where many birds are kept in a small space. Traditionally, this problem was tackled with vaccines and antibiotics. Antibiotics have effectively been used as growth promoters, as they increase productivity as well as improving welfare.

In response to the rise of antibiotic resistance, many countries have imposed a full or partial ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in farmed animals. Consumer perception of antibiotic use in food animals is also generally negative. As a result, interest in effective alternatives to antibiotics is growing.

Introducing: Functional oils
Dr Joan Torrent and his colleagues at Oligo Basics are at the forefront of the search for effective alternatives to antibiotics for use in farmed animals. They are focusing their efforts on the vegetable kingdom. For thousands of years, plants have been the source of traditional remedies for illness in both humans and animals. These substances of plant origin are known as phytogenic compounds.

The researchers at Oligo Basics are taking a scientific approach to their investigation of phytogenics, to identify the active molecules and mode of action of these substances. They are also looking for synergies in phytogenics: where two or more substances are combined to create a more beneficial effect.

Modern poultry production leadsto a higher risk of infections. iStock.com/Vadym Terelyuk

Dr Torrent and his colleagues are specifically investigating a group of phytogenic substances called functional oils. These are oils that can be shown to have functions beyond simply their energy value. Research has suggested that some functional oils have both antibiotic and antimicrobial properties and can effectively tackle bacterial infections. Functional oils also seem to have additional, unexpected positive qualities, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. For example, castor oil has been shown to act as an anti inflammatory.

Some functional oils have both antibiotic and antimicrobial properties and can effectively tackle bacterial infections.

Do functional oils really work?
Dr Torrent and Oligo Basics have already been able to publish a substantial amount of research showing that functional oils really do have positive effects. Much of the research has focused on using functional oils in broiler chickens, as these are relatively cheap, easy to keep and grow quickly, compared to other farmed animals.

Coccidiosis is a common infection in poultry. Red Confidential/Shutterstock.com

In one study, researchers investigated the effects of functional oils on coccidiosis, a common infection in broiler chickens. Coccidiosis is caused by coccidia, a single-celled protozoan parasite, rather than a bacterium. The parasite lives in the intestinal walls of the chicken. Signs of coccidiosis in chickens include diarrhoea, weakness, a pale comb or skin and a reduced growth rate.

The researchers used a mix of two functional oils: castor oil and cashew nut-shell liquid (CNSL). This particular blend is an Oligo Basics product called Essential. Castor oil, when given orally, is well-known for having laxative effects, which limit its usefulness. However, when combined with CNSL, castor oil becomes biologically active at lower doses, which avoids the laxative problem. The active molecule in castor oil is called ricinoleic acid, which has been shown to have both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it ideal for treating intestinal diseases such as coccidiosis. CNSL has also been found to have a number of useful properties, including antimicrobial and anti-tumour activity. Crucially, CNSL appears to have synergistic effects when combined with other antimicrobials like castor oil.

Cashew nut-shell liquid is one of the functional oils used by Oligo Basics.

The researchers carried out their study using young male broiler chicks. The chicks were separated into five groups: one (the control) with coccidiosis infection and no functional oil supplement; with/without coccidiosis and low-dose oil; and with/without coccidiosis and high-dose oil. They found that birds that received the oil supplement (at either dose) gained significantly more weight during their first 28 days of life than the control group (although the weight gain became even after this time). The control group also had a higher mortality rate. Chickens that received the oil supplement were also found to have fewer intestinal lesions.

Crucially, CNSL appears to have synergistic effects when combined with other antimicrobials.

In another study, researchers found that functional oils were able to reduce the effects of heat stress in broiler chickens. Broiler chickens can particularly suffer from heat stress due to their feathers and the conditions they are kept in. In this case, the researchers thought that it was likely to be the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the functional oils that had the positive effect.

Castor oil, from castor beans, has strong antimicrobial properties.

A third study compared Essential, the castor oil-CNSL mix, with the antibiotic monensin. Monensin is commonly added to chicken feed to control coccidiosis. Young male broiler chicks were divided into groups, each of which received a different treatment. Initially, at seven days after infection with coccidiosis, chicks treated with monensin appeared to be doing better than those given the oil. Yet, by 14 days post-infection, the birds given the oil had gained more weight and were showing a better feed-conversion rate than those treated with monensin. By the end of the study, there was no difference in weight, and weight gain, between chicks treated with Essential and monensin. However, there was an even more interesting outcome.

Functional oils target specific microbes
Researchers found that, while functional oils and antibiotics can produce similar results in terms of weight gain, the oils are actually more specific than antibiotics in their antimicrobial activity. This is an important finding, because it means that functional oils will not damage the digestive microbiome – the natural complement of bacteria and other microbes found in the intestines – in the way that some antibiotics can. Instead, functional oil treatment allows the diversity of the digestive microbiome to be maintained. This allows the animal to retain a greater ability to fight digestive diseases with its natural defences.

Studies in cattle have shown that Oligo Basic’s castor oil-CNSL mix can boost digestive health, increase milk production and improve carcass quality.

The research carried out by Oligo Basics to date clearly suggests that phytogenic substances, in particular functional oils, have huge potential for fighting disease in farmed animals. In addition to the work with broiler chickens, studies in cattle have shown that the castor oil-CNSL mix can boost digestive health, increase milk production and improve carcass quality. This mix of oils has been proven to be highly synergistic, with the addition of CNSL both eliminating the laxative problem and actually increasing the antimicrobial potential of castor oil.

With researchers struggling to tackle the ever-increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, new, less traditional avenues of research may become more common. So far, the research spearheaded by Dr Torrent and his colleagues has clearly shown that functional oils are not only able to act as a substitute for antibiotics, but also offer other benefits that can both improve the welfare of farmed animals, by reducing disease, and result in a higher-quality product.

C.Lotongkum/Shutterstock.com

Personal Response

Other than castor oil and CNSL, are any other functional oils showing potential as antibiotic substitutes?

<> Other examples of functional oils are: 1) medium chain fatty acids (caproic, caprylic, capric, and lauric acids) that besides being an easily metabolised fat source, have very strong antimicrobial activity; 2) butyrate that besides being the primary energy source of intestinal epithelial cells, has immunomodulatory effects.

This feature article was created with the approval of the research team featured. This is a collaborative production, supported by those featured to aid free of charge, global distribution.

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