Productive performance and physiological responses of growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with different levels of neem leaves and oil - a review

Abstract

Recently, rabbit production in Egypt has proliferated, mainly to accommodate the increasing demand for fresh meat for human consumption and as a source of additional revenue for Egyptian households or small farms. Modern trends in feeding rabbits on herbs because of their great importance in the physiological responces of the body to produce and strengthen production, the neem tree ( Azadirachta indica ) plant is atypical example of herbs, as it has many benefits because all parts of the neem tree- leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots and bark have been used traditionally for the treatment of inflammation, infections, fever, skin diseases and dental disorders. The medicinal utilities have been described especially for neem leaves. Neem leaf and its constituents have been demonstrated to exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycaemic, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. This review summarises the wide range of pharmacological activities of neem leaf. Therefor, recent reaserch has proven great important for the application of neem and its products from leaves, flowers, fruits,