The nutritional importance of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and its beneficial influence on poultry

SUMMARY In recent years, many countries have prioritised on using innovative supplements in poultry nutrition. Natural substances can be fed in poultry production with a better level of safety and specific impacts. The majority of these impacts are reflected in final products with added value that are healthy, functional, and free of any antibiotic residue. This review article intends to highlight the nutritional uses and favourable health features of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) and its influence on poultry production. In this regard, milk thistle is abundant in chemical bioactive substances, such as silymarin and has a variety of biological properties, including immuno-stimulating and antioxidant activities. The inclusion of milk thistle in poultry diets increases their growth and productivity. Milk thistle components can improve immune response, antioxidant indices, kidney and liver function, blood haematology, lipid profile and then the physiological status of birds. Thus, milk thistle and its derivatives as feed supplements can meet the desires of producers for augmented poultry performance and the consumer demands to produce poultry under environmentally friendly conditions. Finally, the present review study concluded that supplementation of milk thistle as a natural feed additive may affect the antioxidant, immunity, blood biochemistry, and productive performance in poultry.