Use of phytogenic products for pig and broiler diseases

The medicinal plants and herbs have been used for many years in the treatment and prevention of various diseases in animals and human beings. Now-a-days, utilization of these medicinal plants is increasing. This article summarizes the experimental knowledge on efficacy, possible modes of action, and aspects of application of phytogenic products as feed additives for treatment pig and poultry diseases. Phytobiotics is a term used to describe plant-derived natural bioactive compounds, which affect animal growth and health, and is often applied to essential oils, botanicals, and extracts derived from herbal plants. Some phytobiotics are known to have antimicrobial or antiviral activities. Selected herbs, however, are known to possess natural antibacterial activity and other characteristics that could be useful in value-added animal protein production. This area of investigation has not received substantive examination because of the relatively low costs, proven effectiveness, and ready availability of synthetic growth-promoting antibacterial products. Herbs and spices have always been helpful to cure diseases. In modern animal feeding, they are forgotten because of use of antimicrobial growth promoters (AGP). But due to the prohibition of most of AGP, plant extracts have gained interest in animal feed strategies. The risk of the presence of antibiotic residues in milk, meat, egg and their harmful effects on human health have led to their prohibition for use in animal feed in the European Union. Many plants also produce secondary metabolites such as phenolic compounds, essential oils and saponins They act as antibacterial, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antifungal, analgesic, insecticidal, anticoccidial and growth promoters. Azadiracht indica, Zizyphus vulgaris, Ocimum gratissimum and Atlanta monophylla have the strong antibacterial activity, whereas ocimum plant has strong antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antifungal, analgesic and antipyretic properties. Leaves of Azadirachta indica are used for feeding and reducing the parasitic load of animals. The fruit of Azadirachta indica and Artemisia annua also has the anticoccidial activity for poultry. These plant extracts compete with the synthetic drugs. Majority of medicinal plants do not have the residual effect, because have an approved application in human medicine and wich can be added to animal feed for use in preventive and therapeutic treatment of different animal health disorders.