Phyllanthus (Phyllanthus amarus) is a medicinal plant of the Phyllanthaceae family found in tropical regions of the world. It has been used in traditional medicine in many countries, especially Ayurvedic medicine. Phyllanthus contains diverse phytochemicals including lignans, flavonoids, alkaloids, hydrolyzable tannins (Ellagitannins), polyphenols, triterpenes, sterols, and volatile oil.
There have been a handful of studies on the use of P. amarus as a dietary supplement in chickens.
Poultry Specific Studies
| Type | Plant Part | Dosage | Specific use | Results | Ref |
|---|
| Quail | | 0.2-0.4% of diet | egg properties | Improved egg quality traits such as egg weight, egg length, albumen weight and yolk ratio. | VO Chimezie et al 2020 |
| Chickens | leaf extract | 500 mg/l | antiviral | Had significant antiviral potentials against ND virus in broiler chickens and that prophylactic administration at 500 mg/l might be a safer approach in utilization of the leaf extract against Newcastle disease. | C Faeji ei al., 2019 |
| Chickens | leaf extract | 500 mg/l | antiviral | Demonstrated antiviral potential against Newcastle disease virus in broiler chickens. | C Faeji ei al., 2019 |
| Chickens | powder | 0.25-1% diet | hepatoprotective | Did not effect the growth performance of the chickens but helped decrease the fatty degeneration in histopathology of their livers. | N Phuong et al., 2012 |
| Chickens | powder | 0.25-1% diet | growth performance and health | Did not affect the growth performance but helped decrease the fatty degeneration in the liver. Feeding at higher levels had negative implications on the liver. | N Phuong et al., 2012 |
References
- Falade, Adeola Victoria, et al.. "Review of nutritional component, phytochemistry and applications of Phyllanthus amarus" Phytochemistry Reviews 24.6 (2025)
- Mahalingam, Vidhya. "Supplementation of Phyllanthus amarus and Cuminum cyminum Hasten Vaccinal Antibody Response against Newcastle Disease Virus and Increases Gut Absorptive Surface in Backyard Poultry." Journal of Animal Research 11.6 (2021)
- Faeji, C. O., et al.. "Antiviral effect of Phyllanthus amarus leaf extract against Newcastle disease virus in broilers." Asian Plant Research Journal 2.4 (2019)
- Phuong, Nguyen Hieu, and Nguyen Quang Thieu.. "Effect of adding different Phyllanthus amarus powder concentrations in chicken diet on their growth performance and health" Proceedings the International Conference. Livestock-Based Farming Systems, Renewable Resources and the Environmen (2012)
