PROPOLIS AND THYME MODULATE INTESTINAL HISTOMORPHOLOGY IN BROILER CHICKENS
Bardha IBISHI, Vesna KARAPETKOVSKA-HRISTOVA, Bardhyl LIMANI, Nexhbedin BEADINI, Ivan PAVLOVIC
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of thyme and propolis on the histological structure of the liver, duodenum, and proventriculus in broiler chickens. Broiler chickens were divided into four experimental groups and fed diets supplemented with 25 g/kg thyme, 3 g/kg propolis, 6 g/kg propolis, and a control group without additives. After a 42-day fattening period, birds were slaughtered and tissue samples were collected. Samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, processed using standard paraffin embedding techniques, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Histological evaluation was performed using light microscopy with emphasis on epithelial integrity, mucosal organization, submucosal structure, and inflammatory cell presence. The assessment was based on qualitative histological analysis without morphometric measurements. The examined tissues generally preserved normal histological architecture, although diet-related variations were observed. In propolis-treated groups, the mucosa and submucosa were well maintained with only minimal proliferative changes. In the thyme-supplemented group, mild alterations such as epithelial thickening, moderate lymphoid infiltration, vascular congestion, and focal hemorrhages were observed, which were interpreted as adaptive rather than pathological responses. The control group showed normal histological features without inflammatory changes. Although no quantitative measurements were performed, observable intergroup differences indicated potential effects of dietary supplementation. The findings suggested that thyme and propolis may exert beneficial effects on gastrointestinal and hepatic tissues through immunomodulatory and protective mechanisms. Further studies involving morphometric and functional analyses are required to better elucidate these effects. The absence of quantitative morphometric and statistical analysis was considered a limitation of the present study.
Pages: 9 - 15