Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L): Beneficial Impacts, Health Benefits and Uses in Poultry Nutrition

Punica Grantum L is an ancient, magical and distinctive fruit. It is local to the Mediterranean basin and has been broadly utilized in traditional pharmaceuticals in numerous nations. The extracts collected from various parts (peels, seeds, juice and flowers) of this natural fruit can be used as multiple additives for practice because of its polyphenolic contents. Polyphenols found in P. Grantum have been shown to have various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-diarrheal, immunomodulatory, anti-carcinogenic, and wound healing promotors. Moreover, they are reported to have anti-cestodial, anti-nematodal and anti-protozoan activities. P. Grantum L or its by-products supplementation can play a major role in poultry nutrition by enhancing immunity, scavenging free radicals, and inhibiting antimicrobial activity, leading to improved poultry performance. Owing to its functions above, it can be a potential substitute for modulating immune functions and gut microbiota to relieve diarrhea and enteritis, preventing colibacillosis and coccidiosis in chickens. Moreover, it is reported that polyphenols and tannins of P. Grantum act as an antioxidant by scavenging reactive oxygen species and preventing lipid oxidation and inflammatory molecule production. This chapter highlights the work done in the recent past on P. Grantum. Despite the voluminous pharmacological properties of P. Grantum, its usage in the chicken ration is limited. So, this chapter aims to broaden the information of researchers, veterinary advisors, and poultry nutritionists to recommend P. Grantum as a safe, natural added substance in poultry feed to substitute the synthetic additives for nourishment purposes.

Keywords: Chicken, Growth performance, Immunity, Punica granatum L. by-products