{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,13]],"date-time":"2026-06-13T07:23:34Z","timestamp":1781335414805,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,28]],"date-time":"2024-01-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1706400000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000199","name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014Sustainable Agricultural Systems","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2019-69012-29905"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2019-69012-29905"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000199","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000199","name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014Sustainable Agricultural Systems","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2017-38821-26403"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2017-38821-26403"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000199","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000199","name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014Sustainable Agricultural Systems","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2023-38821-39977"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023-38821-39977"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000199","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000199","name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014Sustainable Agricultural Systems","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["7004964"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["7004964"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000199","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u20141890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program","award":["2019-69012-29905"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2019-69012-29905"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u20141890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program","award":["2017-38821-26403"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2017-38821-26403"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u20141890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program","award":["2023-38821-39977"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023-38821-39977"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u20141890 Institution Teaching, Research and Extension Capacity Building Grants Program","award":["7004964"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["7004964"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014CBG","award":["2019-69012-29905"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2019-69012-29905"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014CBG","award":["2017-38821-26403"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2017-38821-26403"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014CBG","award":["2023-38821-39977"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023-38821-39977"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA\u2014CBG","award":["7004964"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["7004964"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA Evans Allen","award":["2019-69012-29905"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2019-69012-29905"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA Evans Allen","award":["2017-38821-26403"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2017-38821-26403"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA Evans Allen","award":["2023-38821-39977"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023-38821-39977"]}]},{"name":"USDA\u2014NIFA Evans Allen","award":["7004964"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["7004964"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Fenugreek seeds (FSs) are a natural source of bioactive compounds that may modulate the immune system and gut microbiota in broilers. This study examined the effects of dietary fenugreek seed powder on immune-related gene expression and cecal microbiota composition in broilers. A total of 144 broiler chickens were randomly allocated to three dietary groups, CON (0 g\/kg FS, FS5 (5 g\/kg FS) and FS10 (10 g\/kg FS), each with 6 replicates of 8 birds. Ileum tissues and cecal contents were collected on day 42 for the mRNA expression of inflammation and antimicrobial defense-related genes and cecal microbiome diversity, respectively. The results indicated that fenugreek seeds downregulated mRNA-level inflammation and antimicrobial defense-related genes: IL6, IL8L2, CASP6, PTGS2, IRF7, AvBD9, AvBD10, and AvBD11. Moreover, fenugreek seeds altered the cecal microbial community by increasing the population of Firmicutes and decreasing the population of Actinobacteriota, Gemmatimonadota and Verrucomicrobiota at the phylum level and increasing Alistipes, Bacteriodes and Prevotellaceae at the genera level. These findings suggest that fenugreek seeds have a positive impact on the immunological profile and microbiome of broiler chickens, possibly through the interplay of the immune system and the gut microbiome.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci11020057","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,30]],"date-time":"2024-01-30T05:14:32Z","timestamp":1706591672000},"page":"57","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Modulation of Immune Response and Cecal Microbiota by Dietary Fenugreek Seeds in Broilers"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2780-3933","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Deependra","family":"Paneru","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2416-2747","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Guillermo","family":"Tellez-Isaias","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Walter G.","family":"Bottje","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emmanuel","family":"Asiamah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agriculture, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR 71601, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5886-0415","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ahmed A. A.","family":"Abdel-Wareth","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt"},{"name":"Poultry Center, Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0268-1084","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Md","family":"Salahuddin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Poultry Center, Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5645-3007","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jayant","family":"Lohakare","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Poultry Center, Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX 77446, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1017\/S0043933917000071","article-title":"Global Poultry Production: Current State and Future Outlook and Challenges","volume":"73","author":"Mottet","year":"2017","journal-title":"Worlds Poult. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shuaib, M., Paneru, D., Hafeez, A., Tahir, M., and Kim, W.K. (2023). The Chemical Composition of Soyhulls and Their Effect on Amino Acid and Nutrient Digestibility in Laying Hens during the Peak of Production. Animals, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13172808"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"318","DOI":"10.1080\/1040841X.2017.1373062","article-title":"Alternatives to Antibiotics in Poultry Feed: Molecular Perspectives","volume":"44","author":"Suresh","year":"2018","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2885.2011.01287.x","article-title":"Pharmacokinetics of Veterinary Drugs in Laying Hens and Residues in Eggs: A Review of the Literature: Drug Residues in Eggs","volume":"34","author":"Goetting","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1433","DOI":"10.1080\/10942912.2016.1212874","article-title":"Antimicrobial Drug Residues in Poultry Products and Implications on Public Health: A Review","volume":"20","author":"Mund","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Prop."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1007\/s12602-017-9275-9","article-title":"The Effects of Direct-Fed Microbial Supplementation, as an Alternative to Antibiotics, on Growth Performance, Intestinal Immune Status, and Epithelial Barrier Gene Expression in Broiler Chickens","volume":"9","author":"Gadde","year":"2017","journal-title":"Probiotics Antimicrob. Proteins"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1485","DOI":"10.1089\/jmf.2011.0002","article-title":"The Potential of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) as a Functional Food and Nutraceutical and Its Effects on Glycemia and Lipidemia","volume":"14","author":"Roberts","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Med. Food"},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"1473","article-title":"Effect of Fenugreek Seed Husk on the Rheology and Quality Characteristics of Muffins","volume":"03","author":"Srivastava","year":"2012","journal-title":"Food Nutr. Sci."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lwt.2010.08.013","article-title":"Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Husk and Endosperm of Fenugreek Seeds","volume":"44","author":"Shyamala","year":"2011","journal-title":"LWT Food Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"181","DOI":"10.4172\/2157-7110.1000181","article-title":"A Review on the Functional Properties, Nutritional Content, Medicinal Utilization and Potential Application of Fenugreek","volume":"3","author":"Meghwal","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Food Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"20","article-title":"Therapeutic Applications of Fenugreek","volume":"8","author":"Basch","year":"2003","journal-title":"Altern. Med. Rev."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"300","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sjbs.2015.09.015","article-title":"Fenugreek a Multipurpose Crop: Potentialities and Improvements","volume":"23","author":"Ahmad","year":"2016","journal-title":"Saudi J. Biol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"97","article-title":"Fenugreek: A Review on Its Nutraceutical Properties and Utilization in Various Food Products","volume":"17","author":"Wani","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Saudi Soc. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.3109\/09637489609028561","article-title":"Influence of Dietary Spices or Their Active Principles on Digestive Enzymes of Small Intestinal Mucosa in Rats","volume":"47","author":"Platel","year":"1996","journal-title":"Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Al Hakeem, W.G., Acevedo Villanueva, K.Y., and Selvaraj, R.K. (2023). The Development of Gut Microbiota and Its Changes Following C. Jejuni Infection in Broilers. Vaccines, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines11030595"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1041","DOI":"10.1096\/fasebj.8.13.7926369","article-title":"Cytokine Production by Epithelial Cells","volume":"8","author":"Stadnyk","year":"1994","journal-title":"FASEB J."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1243","DOI":"10.1182\/blood.V86.4.1243.bloodjournal8641243","article-title":"Interleukin-6 Family of Cytokines and Gp130","volume":"86","author":"Kishimoto","year":"1995","journal-title":"Blood"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1111\/jpn.12579","article-title":"Potential of Plant Polyphenols to Combat Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Processes in Farm Animals","volume":"101","author":"Gessner","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anim. Physiol. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1444","DOI":"10.1039\/C8FO02465K","article-title":"Impact of a Sustained Consumption of Grape Extract on Digestion, Gut Microbial Metabolism and Intestinal Barrier in Broiler Chickens","volume":"10","author":"Chamorro","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Funct."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"610934","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2020.610934","article-title":"Change of Serum Metabolome and Cecal Microflora in Broiler Chickens Supplemented With Grape Seed Extracts","volume":"11","author":"Cao","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yang, L., Liu, S., Ding, J., Dai, R., He, C., Xu, K., Honaker, C.F., Zhang, Y., Siegel, P., and Meng, H. (2017). Gut Microbiota Co-Microevolution with Selection for Host Humoral Immunity. Front. Microbiol., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2017.01243"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1245","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-58005-7","article-title":"Fenugreek Counters the Effects of High Fat Diet on Gut Microbiota in Mice: Links to Metabolic Benefit","volume":"10","author":"Richard","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104616","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2021.104616","article-title":"Combined Effects of Fenugreek Seeds and Probiotics on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Carcass Criteria, and Serum Hormones in Growing Rabbits","volume":"251","author":"Elkhateeb","year":"2021","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Paneru, D., Tellez-Isaias, G., Romano, N., Lohakare, G., Bottje, W.G., and Lohakare, J. (2022). Effect of Graded Levels of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Seeds on the Growth Performance, Hematological Parameters, and Intestinal Histomorphology of Broiler Chickens. Vet. Sci., 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci9050207"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Laptev, G.Y., and Filippova, V.A. (2019). Examination of the Expression of Immunity Genes and Bacterial Profiles in the Caecum of Growing Chickens Infected with Salmonella Enteritidis and Fed a Phytobiotic. Animals, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani9090615"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3217","DOI":"10.1099\/00221287-146-12-3217","article-title":"Differential Cytokine Expression in Avian Cells in Response to Invasion by Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Gallinarum The GenBank Accession Numbers for the Sequences Reported in This Paper Are AI982185 for Chicken IL-6 cDNA and AJ250838 for the Partial Chicken IL-6 Genomic Sequence, Respectively","volume":"146","author":"Kaiser","year":"2000","journal-title":"Microbiology"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1590\/S1516-635X2003000100001","article-title":"Avian Cytokines in Health and Disease","volume":"5","author":"Wigley","year":"2003","journal-title":"Braz. J. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1038\/415389a","article-title":"Antimicrobial Peptides of Multicellular Organisms","volume":"415","author":"Zasloff","year":"2002","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1016\/j.imbio.2010.07.003","article-title":"Host Defense Peptides and Their Antimicrobial-Immunomodulatory Duality","volume":"216","author":"Steinstraesser","year":"2011","journal-title":"Immunobiology"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetimm.2007.12.006","article-title":"Avian Defensins","volume":"124","author":"Veldhuizen","year":"2008","journal-title":"Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetimm.2018.06.007","article-title":"Gene Expression of AvBD6-10 in Broiler Chickens Is Independent of AvBD6, 9, and 10 Peptide Potency","volume":"202","author":"Mowbray","year":"2018","journal-title":"Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"674","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cell.2020.03.040","article-title":"Caspase-6 Is a Key Regulator of Innate Immunity, Inflammasome Activation, and Host Defense","volume":"181","author":"Zheng","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cell"},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Chen, X., and Tansey, M.G. (2011). Neuroinflammation, Elsevier."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cyto.2018.06.001","article-title":"Duck Interferon Regulatory Factor 7 (IRF7) Can Control Duck Tembusu Virus (DTMUV) Infection by Triggering Type I Interferon Production and Its Signal Transduction Pathway","volume":"113","author":"Chen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cytokine"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"882754","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2022.882754","article-title":"The Effects of Fenugreek Extract on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indexes, Immunity and NF-\u03baB Signaling Pathway in Broiler","volume":"9","author":"Huang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"634","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/84.4.634","article-title":"Antibiotic Growth Promoters in Agriculture: History and Mode of Action","volume":"84","author":"Dibner","year":"2005","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2016.05.004","article-title":"Interaction between Chicken Intestinal Microbiota and Protein Digestion","volume":"221","author":"Apajalahti","year":"2016","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aninu.2018.11.002","article-title":"Broiler Gut Microbiota and Expressions of Gut Barrier Genes Affected by Cereal Type and Phytogenic Inclusion","volume":"5","author":"Paraskeuas","year":"2019","journal-title":"Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"82","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2013.11.006","article-title":"Effects of Phytogenic Feed Additive on Growth Performance, Digestibility, Blood Metabolites, Intestinal Microbiota, Meat Color and Relative Organ Weight after Oral Challenge with Clostridium Perfringens in Broilers","volume":"160","author":"Cho","year":"2014","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2011.03.020","article-title":"Assessment of a Phytogenic Feed Additive Effect on Broiler Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Caecal Microflora Composition","volume":"168","author":"Mountzouris","year":"2011","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"821","DOI":"10.1071\/AN15816","article-title":"Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Cinnamaldehyde and Formic Acid on Growth Performance, Intestinal Microbiota and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens","volume":"57","author":"Pathak","year":"2016","journal-title":"Anim. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2011.12.008","article-title":"Effects of Supplemental Essential Oil on Growth Performance, Lipid Metabolites and Immunity, Intestinal Characteristics, Microbiota and Carcass Traits in Broilers","volume":"144","author":"Hong","year":"2012","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."}],"container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/11\/2\/57\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T13:50:42Z","timestamp":1760104242000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/11\/2\/57"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,28]]},"references-count":42,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2]]}},"alternative-id":["vetsci11020057"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vetsci11020057","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-7381"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2306-7381","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,28]]}}}