AUTHOR=Salem Heba M. , El-Saadony Mohamed T. , Abd El-Mageed Taia A. , Soliman Soliman M. , Khafaga Asmaa F. , Saad Ahmed M. , Swelum Ayman A. , Korma Sameh A. , Gonçalves Lima Clara Mariana , Selim Samy , Babalghith Ahmad O. , Abd El-Hack Mohamed E. , Omer Fatima A. , AbuQamar Synan F. , El-Tarabily Khaled A. , Conte-Junior Carlos Adam 

TITLE=Promising prospective effects of Withania somnifera on broiler performance and carcass characteristics: A comprehensive review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.918961

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.918961

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Poultry production contributes markedly to bridging the global food gap. Many nations have limited the use of antibiotics as growth promoters due to increasing bacterial antibiotic tolerance/resistance, as well as the presence of antibiotic residues in edible tissues of the birds. Consequently, the world is turning to use natural alternatives to improve birds' productivity and immunity. <italic>Withania somnifera</italic>, commonly known as ashwagandha or winter cherry, is abundant in many countries of the world and is considered a potent medicinal herb because of its distinct chemical, medicinal, biological, and physiological properties. This plant exhibits antioxidant, cardioprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-aging, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antistress, antitumor, hepatoprotective, and growth-promoting activities. In poultry, dietary inclusion of <italic>W. somnifera</italic> revealed promising results in improving feed intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency, and feed conversion ratio, as well as reducing mortality, increasing livability, increasing disease resistance, reducing stress impacts, and maintaining health of the birds. This review sheds light on the distribution, chemical structure, and biological effects of <italic>W. somnifera</italic> and its impacts on poultry productivity, livability, carcass characteristics, meat quality, blood parameters, immune response, and economic efficiency.</p>