Research work on Piper betle (PB)​ and Persicaria odorata (PO)​ indicates such herbs have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, said the research team.

They could be the potential candidates in the hunt for natural, alternative growth promoters in poultry production, they argued in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences​.

Previous phytochemical investigations reported the presence of high phenolic compounds in Piper betle; however, the reported significant bioactive compounds were hydroxychavicol and eugenol, and these bioactive compounds have been studied and reported as potent antimicrobial agents (Atiya et al., 2018, Syahidah et al., 2017), noted the authors.

Earlier work has indicated that Persicaria odorata is a potent antioxidant (Cristapher et al., 2016), contains flavonoids and a high concentration of essential oils (Narasimhulu et al., 2014). Antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial activities of Persicaria odorata has also been reported (Vikram et al., 2014, Christapher et al., 2015), said the researchers.

The said major bioactive compounds of Persicaria odorata​ include quercetin and myricetin. In poultry, quercetin has shown antiviral and antioxidant effects, additionally have a potential role in counteracting heavy metal toxicity (Saeed et al., 2017), reported the animal scientists.

Methodology

Their study evaluated the influence of gradual level inclusion of PBLM and POLM on growth performance, gut morphology, and apparent ileal digestibility in broiler chickens.