review · Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Phytogenic feed additives derived from plants, such as essential oils, flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols, present natural alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry farming. These plant-based compounds carry antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that help balance gut microbiota by suppressing pathogens and promoting beneficial bacteria. As a result, they protect gut integrity, reduce enteric infections, bolster immune response, and enhance nutrient absorption through positive changes to digestive enzyme activity and gut morphology. Beyond gut health, their use links to better feed conversion efficiency, improved growth rates, and higher meat quality. However, broader implementation faces challenges regarding inconsistent bioactive compositions, dosage determination, and regulatory compliance. Maximising their full potential requires future developments in microencapsulation delivery systems, improved formulations, and research into synergistic combinations with other feed additives.
Reducing antibiotic use in agriculture is vital for public health and sustainable food production. Phytogenic feed additives provide a natural method to keep poultry healthy, prevent infections, and improve farm productivity without relying on conventional antibiotics. This supports animal welfare and consumer demand for antibiotic-free meat while lessening the environmental footprint of poultry farming.
The primary application is the development of natural feed additives for poultry producers and animal nutrition companies looking to replace antibiotic growth promoters. The field remains in an applied research and development stage: while the benefits are recognised, commercial products require further work on microencapsulation delivery technologies, formulation stability, dosage standardisation, and regulatory clearance before broad, reliable market deployment.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
The potential of phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) to modulate gut health has drawn much attention as natural alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production. These plant-derived compounds, such as polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and essential oils exhibit various bioactive properties that improve gut microbiota composition, support immune function, and improve nutrient absorption by influencing gut morphology and digestive enzyme activity. Their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties help maintain and improve overall poultry performance and lower the prevalence of diseases related to gut and intestinal integrity. By promoting a balanced gut microbiota, phytogenics help reduce enteric infections, promote beneficial bacteria, and suppress pathogenic microbes, reducing the need for antibiotic growth promoters. PFAs are valuable tools for sustainable poultry production since they have been connected to enhanced feed conversion efficiency, growth performance, and meat quality in addition to their health benefits. However, further research and standardization are needed to address issues, including regulatory compliance, appropriate dosage determination, and variability in the composition of bioactive compounds. To improve their stability and effectiveness, future research should improve PFA formulations, examine their synergistic interactions with other feed additives, and create innovative delivery systems such as microencapsulation. A promising strategy for enhancing animal welfare, lessening the impact on the environment, and guaranteeing antibiotic-free poultry production is the incorporation of phytogenics into poultry feed. Phytogenics can play a significant role in the future of sustainable poultry farming by tackling the current issues and maximizing their uses.
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DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1616734
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