Introduction
In recent years, the use of phytogenic extracts has emerged as one of the most viable and sustainable natural alternatives in animal production. Thanks to their richness in bioactive compounds, these ingredients offer multiple benefits, particularly highlighting their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties.
In the context of Mediterranean crops and production systems, extracts from grape (Vitis vinifera) and olive (Olea europaea) fruit constitute high-value functional ingredients. Both include a wide variety of polyphenols, such as proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, and catechins in the case of grape skin and seed; and hydroxytyrosol and its phenolic derivatives in the case of olive pomace (Qi et al., 2023; Brenes et al., 2016; Dedousi et al., 2024).
Among the benefits of these natural extracts, their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect stands out, contributing to the protection of cells and tissues against oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. Furthermore, these substances contribute to gut microbiota balance and intestinal health. On the one hand, through their antimicrobial properties that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria while contributing to intestinal integrity; on the other hand, they are known to increase the activity of certain digestive enzymes, improving nutrient digestibility and absorption (Herrero-Encinas et al., 2020; Colantuono et al., 2017).
The importance of selecting and standardizing these types of raw materials is noteworthy. Since their primary benefits are directly related to bioactive bioavailability, including purified extracts in final formulations is essential to ensure a high concentration of functional compounds available to the animal, allowing it to fully leverage its biological potential (Ferlisi et al., 2023; Brenes et al., 2016).
In alignment with these principles, BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® was formulated as a liquid solution based on standardized phytogenic extracts derived from grape and olive. Through its formulation, which guarantees a high concentration of bioactive compounds, BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® has widely demonstrated its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, which positively impact intestinal balance and immune health. In addition, it has been validated under in vivo conditions, demonstrating its ability to improve animal performance under stress conditions.
The use of this natural solution is targeted at stressful scenarios in intensive productions, such as early stages, extreme temperatures, dietary changes, or vaccination, while also considering mycotoxin exposure as a prevalent stress factor in field conditions.
In this context, the following efficacy study of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® was conducted in broiler chickens under stress conditions, generated by a diet with moderate mycotoxin contamination and environmental factors inherent to tropical climates, such as high temperatures and humidity.
Experimental Design
This study was carried out in collaboration with the technological centre Agrivet Research & Advisory (India). The trial included 144 male broilers (Ross 308) fed a naturally contaminated diet for 42 days, in which moderate mycotoxin levels were detected (Table 1).
| Aflatoxins (ppb) | Fumonisins (ppb) | Ochratoxin A (ppb) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter diet (1-10 days) | 2.3 | 716.6 | 6.2 |
| Grower diet (11-24 days) | 3.2 | 1000.2 | 12.2 |
| Finisher diet (25-42 days) | 4.2 | 850.3 | 10.2 |
Table 1: Moderate contamination levels of the experimental diets.
The birds were divided into two experimental groups: the first group received no supplementation, exposed solely to the described diet. The second group received 2 mL of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® per litre of drinking water throughout the 42 days of the trial.
Additionally, all animals were subjected to climatic stress conditions typical of tropical regions, characterized by initial temperatures of 30 °C (subsequently stabilized between 27 °C and 28 °C) and sustained relative humidity between 85% and 90%.
Productive performance was monitored through body weight, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality. Likewise, oxidative status was evaluated by quantifying blood superoxide dismutase (SOD), a key enzyme in the first line of antioxidant defense against cellular stress. Furthermore, a metagenomic study analyzed the genomic profile of the epoxide hydrolase 1 gene (EPHX1), an enzyme involved in cellular detoxification pathways of xenobiotic compounds and reactive metabolites.
BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® improves performance and antioxidant function in broilers
By monitoring performance indicators, BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® demonstrated its ability to boost weight gain and optimize the feed conversion ratio in animals exposed to moderate mycotoxin doses and unfavourable climatic conditions with apparent subclinical effects. This indicates that, thanks to its purified extracts, this liquid solution improves the conditions of the animal’s digestive environment and overall systemic health, even under conditions that appear normal to the producer, delivering enhanced performance.
Figure 1: Performance indicators in broilers exposed to contaminated diet with and without BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® supplementation through drinking water.
Regarding the mortality recorded in both groups, BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® achieved a 2.8% reduction, thanks to its systemic benefits that strengthen the immune response. The properties of this liquid solution contribute to intestinal balance, recognized as one of the primary immune barriers, while supporting liver and kidney function through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Consequently, animals maintain better health status, becoming more resilient against environmental stressors or infectious agents that could compromise their health and viability.
Figure 2: Mortality in broilers exposed to contaminated diet with and without BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® supplementation through drinking water.
Additionally, the antioxidant properties of BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® were validated through SOD monitoring, a key antioxidant defense enzyme, and the expression of the EPHX1 gene, involved in detoxification processes. The results showed that the product actively reduced oxidative stress through effective control of oxidation, consequently decreasing oxidative marker levels.
Figure 3: Oxidation markers in broilers exposed to contaminated diet with and without BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® supplementation through drinking water.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the results demonstrate that BIŌNTE® QUIMITŌX® LIVŌX® consolidates itself as a strategic liquid solution to address productive challenges and stressful situations in poultry production. Thanks to the high efficacy of its standardized phytogenic extracts, the product protects systemic animal health, reduces oxidative stress, and strengthens natural defenses, translating into comprehensive improvements in performance parameters, flock viability, and farm profitability. It is worth noting that the results of this research were published in the scientific journal Toxins in 2025 (available in this link).
