The global poultry industry faces a major transition driven by bans on antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) and rising antimicrobial resistance threats. This has intensified the search for effective, sustainable alternatives to maintain productivity, animal health, and food safety. This review provides a comprehensive overview of next-generation probiotics (NGPs) and their evolving role in poultry production, highlighting their mechanisms of action, technological advancements, and applications for improving performance and health. Recent studies were systematically reviewed, covering conventional and NGPs, multi-omics-driven strain identification strategies, engineered microbial systems, and advanced delivery technologies. Key functional aspects, including gut microbiota modulation, immune responses, pathogen control, and productivity metrics were thoroughly assessed. NGPs exhibit enhanced capabilities over traditional probiotics, including improved gut colonization, targeted antimicrobial activity, and precise host immune modulation. Advances in synthetic biology, microencapsulation, and synbiotic formulations enhance their efficacy and stability. Additionally, NGPs also demonstrate significant potential in improving growth performance, feed conversion ratios, intestinal integrity, and enteric pathogen resistance. However, challenges such as strain-specific variability, regulatory constraints, and limited field-level validation persist. NGPs offer a promising and sustainable strategy for modern poultry production. Future integration with precision microbiome engineering, artificial intelligence, and sustainable farming will be essential to realize their full potential and ensure widespread adoption.
T. Al-Surrayai, S. Shreaz, H. Al-Khalaifah· Microorganisms· 0 citations
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad., a drought-tolerant member of the Cucurbitaceae family, has been used in traditional medicine for centuries and has recently attracted increasing interest because of its potential pharmacological, agricultural, and ecological applications. This review examines current information on the plant’s distribution, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical composition, biological activities, applications in poultry, and ecological significance. Its bioactive constituents include cucurbitacins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, glycosides, fatty acids, and tocopherols. These compounds have been associated with anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and other biological activities, although most of the available evidence comes from in-vitro and preclinical studies. Initial findings also indicate that the plant may have value as a phytogenic feed additive in poultry and as a drought-tolerant species for soil stabilization, rangeland rehabilitation, and desertification control. However, the practical application of these findings is still constrained by differences in research methods, variation in phytochemical composition, limited clinical evidence, and the plant’s narrow therapeutic window and dose-dependent toxicity. Consequently, its therapeutic effectiveness and suitability for routine agricultural use cannot yet be established with certainty. Future research should focus on phytochemical standardization, quality control, thorough toxicological assessment, mechanistic studies, and well-designed clinical and animal trials using standardized preparations. Collectively, the available evidence indicates that C. colocynthis is a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical, veterinary, and ecological applications, although rigorous scientific validation is required before its safe and effective utilization can be recommended.
Hanan Al-Khalaifah, T. Al-Surrayai, S. Shreaz et al.· Biology· 0 citations