Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42188953›Full record

ReviewVeterinary sciences2026

Evidence and Clinical Applications of Natural Products in Veterinary Medicine: A Systematic Review of Clinoptilolite, Ozone Therapy, Propolis, and Phytotherapy.

Dražen Đuričić, Ivona Žura Žaja, Alicja Kowalczyk, Ksenija Vlahović, Hrvoje Valpotić, Mislav Kovačić, Marko Pećin, Marko Samardžija

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Veterinary sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Dražen ĐuričićDepartment of Physiology and Radiobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-8013-2091
Ivona Žura ŽajaDepartment of Physiology and Radiobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-0595-2524
Alicja KowalczykFaculty of Biology and Animal Science, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Wroclaw, Chelmonskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-1908-2942
Ksenija VlahovićDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Hrvoje ValpotićDepartment of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0009-0006-7775-4726
Mislav KovačićDepartment of Biology, University of Osijek, Ulica cara Hadrijana 8/A, 31000 Osijek, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-9805-5226
Marko PećinClinic for Surgery, Orthopedics and Ophthalmology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0002-1186-4774
Marko SamardžijaClinic of Reproduction and Obstetrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0003-0402-3173

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and antibiotic-free veterinary practices has stimulated interest in natural products such as clinoptilolite, ozone therapy, bee-derived products, and phytotherapy. This systematic review evaluates evidence from 2010 to 2026 regarding their clinical efficacy and mechanisms of action. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, Google Scholar, and regional veterinary journals using predefined keywords related to natural alternatives in veterinary medicine. These studies were critically appraised due to frequent methodological limitations, including lack of randomization and control groups. From 1124 identified records, 842 studies were screened after duplicates were removed, 214 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. A total of 96 studies meeting the predefined inclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. Clinoptilolite consistently improved gastrointestinal health and detoxification in livestock. Ozone therapy demonstrated broad antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects, though standardized protocols are lacking. Bee-derived products, especially propolis exhibited strong antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, with variable clinical translation. Phytotherapy emerged as a promising alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. Overall, the available evidence suggests that these natural interventions may serve as promising adjuncts in veterinary practice; however, their current application is constrained by heterogeneity, limited randomized controlled trials, and lack of standardized protocols. Consequently, they should be considered supportive rather than definitive alternatives to conventional therapies. Further well-designed, standardized clinical studies are required to confirm efficacy, optimize application, and support evidence-based integration into modern veterinary medicine.

Indexed as

antibiotic alternativesbee-derived productsclinoptiloliteozone therapyphytotherapysustainable animal healthveterinary medicine

Identifiers

PMID42188953
PMCPMC13211563

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.