# Oral Administration of Propolis and Lysozyme Combination Improves Feline Oral Health and Modulates Systemic Inflammatory and Oxidative Responses

## TL;DR

A supplement combining propolis and lysozyme improves oral health in cats and reduces systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.

## Contribution

The study introduces a natural supplement that modulates feline oral microbiota and systemic health through microbiota-targeted intervention.

## Key findings

- PL supplementation reduced volatile sulfur compounds by 35.4% and improved oral health indices significantly.
- Systemic markers showed decreased inflammation and increased antioxidant activity in cats receiving PL.
- Microbiota analysis revealed suppression of harmful bacteria and enrichment of beneficial species with PL.

## Abstract

Oral diseases are highly prevalent among domestic cats, with microbiota dysbiosis as a primary etiological factor. However, effective microbiota-targeted interventions remain limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of a dietary supplement combining propolis and lysozyme (PL) in mitigating feline oral health issues, based on a cohort of 24 cats divided equally into placebo, treatment, and healthy control groups (n = 8 per group). Supragingival microbiota were analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, alongside assessments of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), oral health indices, and systemic inflammatory, oxidative, and immune markers. After 28 days of intervention, cats receiving PL supplementation demonstrated significant improvements, including a 35.4% reduction in VSCs and notable decreases in debris (34.9%), plaque (51.2%), and gingival indices (61.0%). Systemically, MDA and TNF-α levels decreased, while SOD, T-AOC, and IL-4 increased. Microbiota analysis revealed suppression of Porphyromonas and Selenomonas and enrichment of Moraxella and Bergeyella. Reductions in VSCs, gingival index, and TNF-α were correlated with lower Porphyromonas abundance, while Moraxella and Luteimonas were positively associated with antioxidant status. Functional predictions indicated downregulation of virulence-related pathways and increased expression of glutathione reductase. These findings highlight PL’s potential as a natural, microbiota-based intervention that improves feline oral health and modulates the oral–systemic axis, supporting its application in integrative oral care strategies.