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

Abstract

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.