Reggi et al., in a study published in Applied Sciences, investigated the potential of chestnut biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More as a functional feed ingredient for animals. Biochar is a charcoal-like material produced from the thermal degradation of biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More. It has gained attention for its potential applications in environmental management and animal nutrition. The researchers evaluated chestnut biochar from morphological, chemical, and metabolomic perspectives to assess its functional properties.  

Metabolomic analysis of a water extract using QTOF HPLC-MS/MS confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds, such as hydroxybenzoic and succinic acids, highlighting its potential as a functional feed ingredient. The chestnut biochar inhibited the growth of pathogenic E. coli strains, with maximum inhibition rates of 15.8% and 28.6% after three hours of incubation. The downregulation of genes associated with quorum sensing suggests that biochar interferes with several aspects of the pathogenic process. Importantly, biochar did not adversely affect beneficial probiotic bacteria, such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Limosilactobacillus reuteri.  

These findings support the potential of chestnut biochar as a versatile ingredient for sustainable animal nutrition, promoting animal welfare while offering environmental benefits.  

SOURCE: Reggi, S., Frazzini, S., Pedrazzi, S., Ghidoli, M., Torresani, M.C., Puglia, M., Morselli, N., Guagliano, M., Cristiani, C., Pilu, S.R., et al. (2025). Metabolomic Insights into the Potential of Chestnut Biochar as a Functional Feed Ingredient. Appl. Sci., 15(3), 1084. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031084