The thymol molecule is a food additive, used to boost the growth, production and feed efficiency via improving the digestive secretion and activating the structure and function of digestive system. The major application of thymol essential oil is used in animal rations, particularly as a natural feed additive to decrease hazardous compounds in a wide range of animal species. Thymol essential oil plays an important role in improving the nutrient bioavailability, reproductive and productive performance, general health and immunity of livestock besides reducing problems of many animal diseases such as cancer and some other diseases. These roles may be attributed to the ability of thymol as anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, immunomodulators, anti‐inflammatory and antispasmodic factors through suppressing free radicals and harmful constituents from interacting with cellular biological components and its capability to manipulate the balance of the intestinal microbiota, increased digestion, metabolism and absorption of nutrients. This review elucidates the chemical structure and natural sources, physical proprieties and practical applications of thymol in fish nutrition.

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百里香酚对鱼类健康和生产的有益作用综述

百里香酚分子是一种食品添加剂，用于通过改善消化系统的分泌和激活消化系统的结构和功能来提高生长，生产和饲料效率。百里香酚精油的主要用途是用于动物口粮中，特别是用作天然饲料添加剂以减少多种动物物种中的有害化合物。百里香酚精油除了减少许多动物疾病（例如癌症和其他疾病）的问题外，在改善营养生物利用度，生殖和生产性能，总体健康和牲畜免疫方面也起着重要作用。这些作用可能归因于百里酚作为抗癌，抗微生物，抗病毒，抗氧化剂，免疫调节剂的能力，通过抑制自由基和有害成分与细胞生物成分的相互作用而产生的抗炎和解痉挛因子，以及其调节肠道菌群平衡，增加营养物质的消化，代谢和吸收的能力。这篇综述阐明了百里酚在鱼类营养中的化学结构和天然来源，物理特性以及实际应用。