Mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). a,b,c: Values within each row not sharing a common superscript letter are significantly different (P < 0.05). Protein, fat, and ash content on a dry basis. Where C: experimental treatment fed the control diet, T1: experimental treatment fed the T1 diet, T2: experimental treatment fed the T2 diet, T3: experimental treatment fed the T3 diet.
Declarations
Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge Mr. Ioannis Agrokostas (Roi Pelle Snail Farm, Magnesia, Greece) for supplying the snails and feed used in the experiments and the undergraduate students Apostolia Tsitsaki and Ioannis Tzoutzoulis for their assistance during the experimental procedure.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Ethical approval
The authors confirm that the ethical policies of the journal, as noted on the journal’s author guidelines page, have been adhered to, and the appropriate ethical review committee approval has been received. The authors confirm that they have followed EU standards for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes and feed legislation. No ethical approval was required for using Cornu aspersum maximum in animal studies. However, our experiments were conducted according to the internal guidelines of the University of Thessaly, Greece.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent to publication
Not applicable.
Availability of data and materials
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this manuscript will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation, to any qualified researcher.
Funding
This study was part of the project coded ΔΜΡ1-0010874 financed under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (NSRF) 2014–2020, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and National Resources, Operational Program entitled “West Macedonia, Action 2014–2020”. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Open Exploration maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims in published institutional affiliations and maps. All opinions expressed in this article are the personal views of the author(s) and do not represent the stance of the editorial team or the publisher.
References
Barbosa IDS, Brito GB, Dos Santos GL, Santos LN, Teixeira LSG, Araujo RGO, et al. Multivariate data analysis of trace elements in bivalve molluscs: Characterization and food safety evaluation.Food Chem. 2019;273:64–70. [DOI] [PubMed]
Margret MS, Santhiya M, Mary MT, Jansi M. Comparative study on the biochemical compositions of four gastropods along the Kanyakumari Coast.World J Fish Mar Sci. 2013;5:637–40. [DOI]
Cumplido M, Marinho C, Bigatti G. Nutritional composition of Patagonian marine gastropods during reproductive seasonality.J Mar Biol Assoc U K. 2020;100:567–76. [DOI]
Berillis P, Hatziioannou M, Karapanagiotidis IT, Neofitou C. Morphological study of muscular tissue collagen of wild and reared Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774).Molluscan Res. 2013;33:6–13.
Staikou A, Feidantsis K, Gkanatsiou O, Bibos MN, Hatziioannou M, Storey KB, et al. Seasonal cellular stress phenomena and phenotypic plasticity in land snail Helix lucorum populations from different altitudes.J Exp Biol. 2021;224:jeb243298. [DOI] [PubMed]
Hatziioannou M, Kokkinos K. Evaluation of Sustainability Determinants of Small Farming Systems via Participatory Modeling and Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Processes: The Case Study of Heliciculture in Greece.Front Sustain. 2021;2:629408. [DOI]
Hatziioannou M, Theodorou A, Apostolou K, Kougiagka E, Giannouli P, Karapanagiotidis IT, et al. Grape Marc as a Functional Feed Ingredient for Farmed Snails (Cornu aspersum maximum): Effects on Production Performance, Parasitological Status, and Meat Quality.Animals. 2025;15:2680. [DOI]
Farfar K, Bouraiou C, Youbi A, Fetnaci I, Khebbeb ME, Djebar MR, et al. Histopathology of the digestive gland of the snail Cantareus aspersus exposed chronically to cadmium and copper fungicide.Research Square [Preprint]. 2022 [cited 2024 Dce 10]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2280356/v1
Kougiagka E, Apostologamvrou C, Giannouli P, Hatziioannou M. Quality Factors of Commercial Snail Fillets as Affected by Species.Food Technol Biotechnol. 2022;60:330–7. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Kougiagka E, Apostologamvrou C, Hatziioannou M, Giannouli P. Quality characteristics and microstructure of boiled snail fillet meat.J Food Process Preserv. 2022;46:e17079. [DOI]
Apostolou K, Staikou A, Sotiraki S, Hatziioannou M. An Assessment of Snail-Farm Systems Based on Land Use and Farm Components.Animals (Basel). 2021;11:272. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Kougiagka E, Gkafas GA, Exadactylos A, Hatziioannou M. Morphology and Genetic Structure Profile of Farmed Snails Cornu aspersum aspersum and Cornu aspersum maximum in Greece.Sustainability. 2022;14:15965. [DOI]
Apostolou K, Klaoudatos D, Staikou A, Sotiraki S, Hatziioannou M. Evaluation of production performance between two heliciculture farming systems.Molluscan Research. 2023;43:211–21. [DOI]
Hatziioannou M, Eleutheriadis N, Lazaridou-Dimitriadou M. Food preferences and dietary overlap by terrestrial snails in Logos area (Edessa, Macedonia, Northern Greece).J Molluscan Stud. 1994;60:331–41. [DOI]
Milinsk MC, das Graças Padre R, Hayashi C, de Souza NE, Matsushita M. Influence of diets enriched with different vegetable oils on the fatty acid profiles of snail Helix aspersa maxima.Food Chem. 2003;82:553–8. [DOI]
Milinsk MC, das Graças Padre R, Hayashi C, de Oliveira CC, Visentainer JV, de Souza NE, et al. Effects of feed protein and lipid contents on fatty acid profile of snail (Helix aspersa maxima) meat.J Food Compos Anal. 2006;19:212–6. [DOI]
Toader-Williams A, Bentea M. Comparative study on the adaptation and growth dynamics of the Helix pomatia and Helix aspersa Muller terrestrial snails under different feeding regimes.Sci Pap Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2010;43:133.
Luis AIS, Campos EVR, de Oliveira JL, Fraceto LF. . Trends in aquaculture sciences: from now to use of nanotechnology for disease control.Rev Aquacult. 2019;11:119–32. [DOI]
Sharifi-Rad J, Sureda A, Tenore GC, Daglia M, Sharifi-Rad M, Valussi M, et al. Biological Activities of Essential Oils: From Plant Chemoecology to Traditional Healing Systems.Molecules. 2017;22:70. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Sutili FJ, Gatlin III DM, Heinzmann BM, Baldisserotto B. Plant essential oils as fish diet additives: benefits on fish health and stability in feed.Rev Aquacult. 2018;10:716–26. [DOI]
Laparra JM, Sanz Y. Interactions of gut microbiota with functional food components and nutraceuticals.Pharmacol Res. 2010;61:219–25. [DOI] [PubMed]
Freccia A, de Negreiros Sousa SM, Meurer F, Butzge AJ, Mewes JK, Bombardelli RA. Essential oils in the initial phase of broodstock diets of Nile tilapia.Rev Bras Zootec. 2014;43:1–7. [DOI]
Zhai H, Liu H, Wang S, Wu J, Kluenter AM. Potential of essential oils for poultry and pigs.Anim Nutr. 2018;4:179–86. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Peng QY, Li JD, Li Z, Duan ZY, Wu YP. Effects of dietary supplementation with oregano essential oil on growth performance, carcass traits and jejunal morphology in broiler chickens.Anim Feed Sci Technol. 2016;214:148–53. [DOI]
Dalle Zotte A, Celia C, Szendrő Z. Herbs and spices include as feedstuff or additive in growing rabbit diets and as additive in rabbit meat: A review.Livest Sci. 2016;189:82–90. [DOI]
Hanczakowska Ε, Swiatkiewicz Μ. Effect of herbal extracts on piglet performance and small intestinal epithelial villi.Czech J Anim Sci. 2012;57:420–9.
Ashraf A, Sabu S, Sasidharan A, Sunooj KV. Natural Feed Supplements From Crustacean Processing Side Streams for Improved Growth of Finfishes and Crustaceans: A Review.J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2025;109:376–401. [DOI] [PubMed]
Kirkpinar F, Ünlü HB, Serdaroğlu M, Turp GY. Effects of dietary oregano and garlic essential oils on carcass characteristics, meat composition, colour, pH and sensory quality of broiler meat.Br Poult Sci. 2014;55:157–66. [DOI] [PubMed]
Ranucci D, Beghelli D, Trabalza-Marinucci M, Branciari R, Forte C, Olivieri O, et al. Dietary effects of a mix derived from oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) essential oil and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood extract on pig performance, oxidative status and pork quality traits.Meat Sci. 2015;100:319–26. [DOI] [PubMed]
Rivaroli DC, Guerrero A, Valero MV, Zawadzki F, Eiras CE, Campo MDM, et al. Effect of essential oils on meat and fat qualities of crossbred young bulls finished in feedlots.Meat Sci. 2016;121:278–84. [DOI] [PubMed]
Ferreira P, Soares GL, Dávila S, Bessa EC. The influence of caffeine and thymol on the survival, growth and reproduction of Subulina octona (Brugüière, 1789) (Mollusca, Subulinidae).Braz Arch Biol Technol. 2009;52:945–52. [DOI]
Ferreira P, Soares GL, Dávila S, Bessa EC. The influence of thymol+DMSO on survival, growth and reproduction of Bradybaena similaris (Mollusca: Bradybaenidae).Zoologia (Curitiba). 2011;28:145–50. [DOI]
Mc Donnell R, Yoo J, Patel K, Rios L, Hollingsworth R, Millar J, et al. Can essential oils be used as novel drench treatments for the eggs and juveniles of the pest snail Cornu aspersum in potted plants?J Pest Sci. 2016;89:549–55. [DOI]
Klein ML, Chastain TG, Garbacik CJ, Qian YPL, Mc Donnell RJ. Acute toxicity of essential oils to the pest slug Deroceras reticulatum in laboratory and greenhouse bioassays.J Pest Sci. 2020;93:415–25. [DOI]
Linhart YB, Thompson JD. Terpene-based selective herbivory by Helix aspersa (Mollusca) on Thymus vulgaris (Labiatae).Oecologia. 1995;102:126–32. [DOI] [PubMed]
Vokou D, Tziolas M, Bailey SER. Essential-oil-mediated interactions between oregano plants and Helicidae grazers.J Chem Ecol. 1998;24:1187–202. [DOI]
Lemjallad L, Chabir R, Kandri Rodi Y, El Ghadraoui L, Ouazzani Chahdi F, Errachidi F. Improvement of Heliciculture by Three Medicinal Plants Belonging to the Lamiaceae Family.ScientificWorldJournal. 2019;2019:2630537. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Association of Official Analytical Chemists International. Official methods of analysis. Maryland, USA: AOAC International; 2020.
Apostologamvrou C, Hatziioannou M, Exadactylos A, Vafidis D. Reproductive biology of the commercial sea cucumber Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli, in the Central Aegean Sea, Greece.Fish Res. 2024;279:107157. [DOI]
El Khayari A, Rour E, Bouymajane A, Mzoudi N, Chenni, Y. Use of medicinal plants to enhance the breeding and microbiological quality of the flesh in the snail Cryptomphalus aspersus.Invert Reprod Dev. 2024;68:27–35. [DOI]
Ali SM, Mohammed TA, Mandour AM, Abd EL-Malek AR. Effect of Acacia nilotica and Cuminum cyminum extracts on Eobania vermiculata and Monacha obstructa (land snails).Egypt J Zool. 2015;64:117–30.
Dias Junior PCG, dos Santos IJ, Gasparina JM, Bandoria NA, Soares LCB, da Silva AL, et al. Essential oil from Arnica montana alters the protein metabolism in lambs fed with high-concentrate diets.Small Rumin Res. 2023;219:106894. [DOI]
Cheng C, Xia M, Zhang X, Wang C, Jiang S, Peng J. Supplementing Oregano Essential Oil in a Reduced-Protein Diet Improves Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility by Modulating Intestinal Bacteria, Intestinal Morphology, and Antioxidative Capacity of Growing-Finishing Pigs.Animals (Basel). 2018;8:159. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Dennis MM, Molnár K, Kriska G, Lőw P. Mollusca: Gastropoda.Invert Histol. 2021;87–132. [DOI]
Delakorda SL, Letofsky-Papst I, Novak T, Giovannelli M, Hofer F, Pabst MA. Application of elemental microanalysis to elucidate the role of spherites in the digestive gland of the helicid snail Chilostoma lefeburiana.J Microsc. 2008;231:38–46. [DOI] [PubMed]
Ziegler M, Eckstein H, Köhler HR, Tisler S, Zwiener C, Triebskorn R. Effects of the antidepressants citalopram and venlafaxine on the big ramshorn snail (Planorbarius corneus).Water. 2021;13:1722. [DOI]
Abdel-Azeem HH, Osman GY, Mohamed AH. Potential toxic effects of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on the biological, biochemical, and histological aspects of the land snail Helix aspersa.Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023;30:78127–38. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Ngo PA, Neurath MF, López-Posadas R. Impact of Epithelial Cell Shedding on Intestinal Homeostasis.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23:4160. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Hamed SS, Abdelmeguied NE, Essawy AE, Radwan MA, Hegazy AE. Histological and ultrastructural changes induced by two carbamate molluscicides on the digestive gland of Eobania vermiculata.J Biol Sci. 2007;7:1017–37.
Mohammadein A, El-Shenawy NS, Al-Fahmie ZHH. Bioaccumulation and histopathological changes of the digestive gland of the land snail Eobania vermiculata (Mollusca: Gastropoda), as biomarkers of terrestrial heavy metal pollution in Taif city.It J Zool. 2013;80:345–57. [DOI]
