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Open AccessVollständige AnalyseJun 16, 2026

Glycyrrhiza uralensis–Atractylodes macrocephala combination in broilers: growth performance, immunity, and gut microbiota

GU-AM combination supplementation was reported to favor growth performance, immune markers, and intestinal health parameters in broiler chickens, but evidence derives from a preclinical animal study without retrievable primary numerical results in the transmitted text.

The question (PICO)
PopulationBroiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) under intensive production system
InterventionDietary supplementation with Glycyrrhiza uralensis–Atractylodes macrocephala combination (GU-AM)
VergleichUnsupplemented control diet (and likely single-herb GU or AM groups — details not recoverable from provided text)
EndpunktGrowth performance (body weight gain, feed conversion ratio), immune function, intestinal health, cecal microbiota, and intestinal metabolites
DEvidenz
Studie
Study
Effekt
Unzureichend
Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse nach Endpunkt
EndpunktGradRichtungEffektStudien
Growth performance (body weight gain)D Unzureichendnão reportado no texto disponível1
Feed conversion ratioD Unzureichendnão reportado no texto disponível1
Immune function (serum markers)D Unzureichendnão reportado no texto disponível1
Intestinal health (villus morphology)D Unzureichendnão reportado no texto disponível1
Cecal microbiota compositionD Unzureichendnão reportado no texto disponível1
Intestinal metabolitesD Unzureichendnão reportado no texto disponível1
Intestinal inflammatory markersD Unzureichendnão reportado no texto disponível1
Growth performance (body weight gain)D
Richtung Unzureichend
Effektnão reportado no texto disponível
Studien1
Feed conversion ratioD
Richtung Unzureichend
Effektnão reportado no texto disponível
Studien1
Immune function (serum markers)D
Richtung Unzureichend
Effektnão reportado no texto disponível
Studien1
Intestinal health (villus morphology)D
Richtung Unzureichend
Effektnão reportado no texto disponível
Studien1
Cecal microbiota compositionD
Richtung Unzureichend
Effektnão reportado no texto disponível
Studien1
Intestinal metabolitesD
Richtung Unzureichend
Effektnão reportado no texto disponível
Studien1
Intestinal inflammatory markersD
Richtung Unzureichend
Effektnão reportado no texto disponível
Studien1

Kontext

Restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters in intensive poultry production drive demand for phytogenic alternatives. GU and AM are traditional Chinese medicine herbs with described anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory bioactives. Their combination follows the TCM herbal compatibility principle targeting synergistic efficacy.

Was die Studie zeigte

The full text provided corresponds predominantly to the introduction and discussion sections; primary numerical data (means, SDs, 95% CIs, p-values) were not included in the transmitted excerpt. The narrative indicates GU-AM combination favorably affects growth, immunity, and intestinal health, mediated by microbiota and metabolite shifts. Without tabulated results, absolute and relative numbers or effect sizes cannot be reported.

Wie es durchgeführt wurde

Experimental study in broiler chickens published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2026). The design appears to be a multi-group controlled experiment (control, GU alone, AM alone, GU-AM combination) with cecal microbiota and metabolomic assessment. Sample size, exact duration, and randomization criteria are absent from the provided text.

Effektgröße

Effect size not quantifiable from the available excerpt; no 95% CI was reported in the transmitted material.

Einschränkungen

Animal model (broiler chickens): direct applicability to humans or other species is absent without translational studies. The received full text contains no results section with primary data, precluding formal risk-of-bias assessment (RoB 2 or SYRCLE for animal studies). Single-laboratory, unregistered study raises risk of selective outcome reporting. The microbiota–performance causal mechanism is inferred, not experimentally established.

In der klinischen Praxis

This study does not support clinical recommendations for human use. In veterinary/poultry science context, data are insufficient to recommend GU-AM dose, ratio, or protocol without access to complete quantitative results. Human health professionals must not extrapolate these findings.

Was noch fehlt

Studies with complete primary results, prospective registration, power calculations, and formal risk-of-bias assessment are required. Dose-response and toxicological safety studies are mandatory steps before any clinical translation.

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