Use of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench as an additive in poultry nutrition

Feed additives have been widely used to stimulate appetite, improve growth performance and immune system function in livestock nutrition. For many years antibiotics have been used in livestock production to improve growth performance. Following the ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal feeds in European Union and increasing demand for organic products, natural additives are needed, which can maintain health and enhance growth performance.

Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is one of the phytogenic additives that has been used for immune system stimulation. The effects of Echinacea in laboratory animals have been effectively studied and investigated in human for potential clinical effects. Echinacea contains effective ingredients which are effective in treatment of various diseases and promoting immune system function. These active substances include alkamides, glycoproteins, polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, cinnamic acids, essential oils and flavonoids.

 Research on the use of Echinacea in poultry feed are limited, although they can be used as a guideline for further studies. In this paper, we have tried to discuss about present knowledge and the effects of active substances in improving the performance, health and function of the poultry immune system.