Potential role of important nutraceuticals in poultry performance and health - A comprehensive review

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 137; pp. 9 - 29
• Main Authors: Alagawany, Mahmoud, Elnesr, Shaaban S., Farag, Mayada R., Abd El-Hack, Mohamed E., Barkat, Rasha A., Gabr, Amr A., Foda, Manar A., Noreldin, Ahmed E., Khafaga, Asmaa F., El-Sabrout, Karim, Elwan, Hamada A.M., Tiwari, Ruchi, Yatoo, Mohd Iqbal, Michalak, Izabela, Di Cerbo, Alessandro, Dhama, Kuldeep
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2021; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Additives; Animal; Animal products; Animal welfare; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Bacteria; Diet; Drug resistance; Fatty acids; Feed supplements; Feeds; Food; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Health; Immune system; Immunity; Immunosuppressive agents; Infectious diseases; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Mode of action; Morphology; Natural products; Nutraceuticals; Organic acids; Pathogens; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Poultry; Prevention; Probiotics; Veterinary medicine; Microbiota; Poultry; Health; Animal; Performance; Immunity; Nutraceuticals
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.04.009

Antibiotics use in poultry as a growth promoter leads to the propagation of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and incorporation of drug residues in foods; therefore, it has been restricted in different countries. There is a global trend to limit the use of antibiotics in the animal products. Prevention of the antibiotics use in the poultry diets led to the reduction in the growth performance. Consequently, there is a high demand for natural substances that lead to the same growth enhancement and beneficially affect poultry health. These constituents play essential roles in regulating the normal physiological functions of animals including the protection from infectious ailments. Nutraceuticals administration resulted beneficial in both infectious and noninfectious diseases. Being the natural components of diet, they are compatible with it and do not pose risks associated with antibiotics or other drugs. Nutraceuticals are categorized as commercial additives obtained from natural products as an alternative feed supplement for the improvement of animal welfare. This group includes enzymes, synbiotics, phytobiotics, organic acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the present review, the summary of various bioactive ingredients that act as nutraceuticals and their mode of action in growth promotion and elevation of the immune system has been presented. •There is a global trend to limit the use of antibiotics in the animal products and to find safer and healthier alternatives.•There is a high demand for natural substances that lead to the same growth enhancement and beneficially affect poultry health.•Nutraceutical have essential roles in developing the normal physiological functions of animals.•The nutraceutical can be defined as a natural substance added in food to provide health or medical benefits.•Nutraceuticals are categorized as new commercial additives obtained from the nature as an alternative feed supplement.