<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Poultry production significantly contributes to bridging the food gap worldwide. Several nations have limited the usage of antibiotic growth promoters due to bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the occurrence of residual antibiotics in the edible tissues of birds. The world is now turning to using natural alternatives to increase poultry production as well as birds’ resistance to diseases. <italic>Withania somnifera</italic> (WS; family: Solanaceae) is a precious medicinal herb utilized in several countries due to its distinct chemical, medicinal, and physiological properties. This plant has antioxidant, anti-aging, antimicrobial, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antistress, and growth-promoting activities. In poultry, the dietary inclusion of WS revealed a promising result in enhancing productive performance, increasing disease resistance, reducing stress effects, and maintaining the bird’s health. Thus, the current review highlights the morphological features, distribution, chemical structure, and pharmacological features of <italic>Withania somnifera</italic> as a growth promoter herb for farming broiler chickens.</p>
</abstract>

Poultry production significantly contributes to bridging the food gap worldwide. Several nations have limited the usage of antibiotic growth promoters due to bacterial resistance to antibiotics and the occurrence of residual antibiotics in the edible tissues of birds. The world is now turning to using natural alternatives to increase poultry production as well as birds’ resistance to diseases. Withania somnifera (WS; family: Solanaceae) is a precious medicinal herb utilized in several countries due to its distinct chemical, medicinal, and physiological properties. This plant has antioxidant, anti-aging, antimicrobial, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antistress, and growth-promoting activities. In poultry, the dietary inclusion of WS revealed a promising result in enhancing productive performance, increasing disease resistance, reducing stress effects, and maintaining the bird’s health. Thus, the current review highlights the morphological features, distribution, chemical structure, and pharmacological features of Withania somnifera as a growth promoter herb for farming broiler chickens.

<italic>Withania somnifera</italic> as a Phytoherbal Growth Promoter for Broiler Farming – A Review

Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Environmental Sciences

Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Poultry Department, Faculty of Agriculture

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

 as a Phytoherbal Growth Promoter for Broiler Farming – A Review

Poultry production significantly contributes to bridging the food gap worldwide. Several nations have limited the usage of antibiotic growth promoters due to...

Withania somnifera as a Phytoherbal Growth Promoter for Broiler Farming – A Review

Published Online: Jan 23, 2024

Page range: 53 - 64

Received: Oct 01, 2022

Accepted: Apr 19, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0045

Keywords
adaptogen plant, herbal extracts, poultry productivity

© 2024 Maria Cristina de Oliveira et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Withania somnifera as a Phytoherbal Growth Promoter for Broiler Farming – A Review

Published Online: Jan 23, 2024

Page range: 53 - 64

Received: Oct 01, 2022

Accepted: Apr 19, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2023-0045

Keywordsadaptogen plant, herbal extracts, poultry productivity

© 2024 Maria Cristina de Oliveira et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
adaptogen plant, herbal extracts, poultry productivity