Dataset Information

Oregano essential oil-driven rumen microbiome metabolism potentially regulates intramuscular fatty acid profile in Holstein bulls through liver lipid metabolism

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Background

While oregano essential oil (OEO) has been used as a feed additive in ruminant production and shown to positively influence meat quality, its effects on the rumen microbiota and host liver metabolism, and the potential mechanisms linking these to intramuscular fatty acid deposition remain poorly understood. This study applied a multi-omics approach, including metagenomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics, to investigate how dietary OEO influences key ruminal microbes and metabolites, as well as hepatic genes and metabolites associated with fatty acid metabolism in Holstein bulls.

Results

Twelve Holstein bulls were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments: a basal diet (CON) and a basal diet supplemented with OEO. OEO supplementation significantly increased the content of total polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid in muscle (P < 0.05). Metagenomic analysis revealed that OEO increased the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes and the genus Prevotella in the rumen. Ruminal metabolomics further identified differential lipid metabolites, primarily fatty acyls and glycerophospholipids, enriched in α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid metabolism pathways. In the liver, OEO similarly elevated levels of fatty acyl and glycerophospholipid metabolites. liver transcriptome profiling identified 12 differentially expressed genes related to lipid metabolism. Importantly, correlation analyses demonstrated significant relationships among intramuscular fatty acids, rumen bacteria, differential metabolites, and lipid-related genes.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that dietary OEO modulates the rumen microbiota—particularly by enriching Prevotella—and drives changes in lipid metabolites that likely regulate host liver lipid metabolism. These shifts contribute to improved intramuscular unsaturated fatty acid content. This study provides systematic insights into the microbiome–host interaction underlying OEO-induced enhancements of beef fatty acid profiles.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - alternating - reverse-phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS13490 | MetaboLights | 2025-12-15

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights

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Dataset's files

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			Action	DRS
	a_MTBLS13490_LC-MS_alternating_reverse-phase_metabolite_profiling-1.txt	Txt
	a_MTBLS13490_LC-MS_alternating_reverse-phase_metabolite_profiling.txt	Txt
	i_Investigation.txt	Txt
	m_MTBLS13490_LC-MS_alternating_reverse-phase_metabolite_profiling_v2_maf.tsv	Tabular
	s_MTBLS13490.txt	Txt

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Project description:The objective of this study was to examine changes in muscle gene expression of growing bulls during a period of dietary energy restriction followed by a period of subsequent realimentation and compensatory growth. Purebred Holstein Friesian bulls (n=20) were assigned to one of two feeding treatments (i) restricted feed allowance for 125 days (n=10) followed by ad libitum access to feed for a further 55 days or (ii) a control group with ad libitum access to feed through out the 180 days trial (n=10). The first 125 days of the trial were denoted as Peirod 1, during which treatment groups were fed differentially. The subsequent 55 days, denoted as Period 2 during which all bulls were fed ad libitum. All bulls received the same diet of 70% concentrate 30% grass silage through out the experimental trial,with the amount of feed provided different dependnet on each treatment group. Muscle biopsies were collected at 2 time points (end of the differential feeding in Period 1 (d 120) and during the realimentation phase in Period 2 (d 15 of re-alimentation). RNA was extracted and muscle gene expression was examined using RNAseq technology and bioinformatic analysis. During the differential feeding period, over-represented pathways including fatty acid beta oxidaiton, oxidative phosphorylation and TCA cyclewere identified, which indicate utilisation of lipid sotes for energy utilisaiton and also alterations in energy produciton during dietary restriciton in muscle. During the realimentation period, pathways involved in energy produciton were over-represented, with the direction of fold changes opposite to that of these pathways in Period 1. additionally, a number of genes involved in cell division and cellular proliferation were up-regulated during compensatory growth in re-alimentation, thereby promoting accelerated cell growth and proliferation in muscle tissue of animals experiencing compensatory growth. This information can be exploited in genomic breeding programmes to assist selection of cattle with a greater ability to compensate following a period dietary restriction. 40 muscle RNA samples were analysed in total. 10 samples were from muscle biopsies collected at the end of a period of dietary restriction (d 120) and 10 samples were from muscle biopsis collected during the initial stages of compensatory growth (d 15 of re-alimentation). In addition, RNA was also anlaysed from 10 samples collected from animals fed a libitum at each of these two timepoints.

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Oregano essential oil-driven rumen microbiome metabolism potentially regulates intramuscular fatty acid profile in Holstein bulls through liver lipid metabolism

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