Highly Specific Polyphenolic Colloids as Alternatives to Antimicrobials in Livestock Production

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Microbiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance spread from livestock farming is a global health issue.
• Phenolic compounds offer potential antibiotic alternatives but face challenges like poor solubility and stability.
• Current nano/micro-formulations are often not cost-effective for agricultural applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize wood-derived phenolic compounds for potential use as antimicrobial agents in livestock.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of colloidal phenolic suspensions against livestock-associated bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Three phenolic compounds from wood processing were characterized for antioxidant activity, size, and stability.
• Colloidal suspensions of these compounds were prepared.
• Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined against six bacterial strains from livestock.

Main Results:

• Characterization confirmed suitable properties for in-field application.
• Colloidal chestnut demonstrated efficacy against *Staphylococcus aureus* but not *Escherichia coli*.
• Colloidal pine showed specificity towards *Escherichia coli* with limited effect on *S. aureus*.

Conclusions:

• Colloidal polyphenols are viable, cost-effective alternatives to antibiotics in livestock.
• Specific phenolic compounds exhibit targeted antimicrobial activity against key livestock pathogens.
• This study presents a proof-of-concept for natural antimicrobial solutions in animal agriculture.