Nano‐liposomal encapsulation of Artemisia aucheri phenolics as a potential phytobiotic against Campylobacter jejuni infection in mice

BACKGROUND: Artemisia aucheri contains antibacterial phenolic compounds. The current work was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of a nanoliposome‐encapsulated phenolic‐rich fraction (PRF‐NLs), as a dietary phytobiotic derived from Artemisia aucheri's areal parts, on the inhibition of enteropathogenic Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) infection in mice. METHODS: The phenolic‐rich fraction was loaded into the nanoliposome structure to obtain a nanometer‐scale size liposome with homogenous dispersion. Next, 40 white male balb/c mice were assigned to 4 treatment groups. The PRF‐NLs antibacterial potential was evaluated by evaluating the blood parameters, liver lipid peroxidation, and gene expression profiling in the mice challenged by C. jejuni infection. RESULTS: Mice infected by C. jejuni showed impairment in food intake, weight gain, liver function, ileum morphometric features, and ileum tissue inflammation. The diet of fortified food with the nonencapsulated and nanoliposome‐encapsulated phenolic compounds was found to improve these parameters at 10 mg TPC/kg BW/day concentration. Our data indicated that the nanoliposome‐encapsulated PRF was more effective in promoting the health parameters in mice as compared to nonencapsulated PRF. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that the liposomal encapsulation can promote the solubility, availability, and effectiveness of Artemisia aucheri phenolic compounds playing a key role as phytobiotic in mice intervened by enteropathogenic C. jejuni.