Abstract

Due to recent intensive poultry production, there is a great demand to use natural alternative feed additives. One of these alternatives is phytobiotics. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a plant that has been used for many years as a natural remedy for the liver diseases. Silymarin is the major dried extract of milk thistle. Silymarin has many flavonolignans that showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-lipid peroxidative, immune stimulant, and hepatic cells stabilizing effects. In poultry production system, silymarin has been used in broilers as a growth promotor and in layers to improve the egg quantity and quality. It has been also used as a hepatotonic substance as a result of a potent antioxidant activity. The carcass trait showed improvement after treatment of broilers with silymarin. In addition, enhancement of the immune system and the intestinal health has been detected after application of silymarin in poultry diets. Accordingly, this review article aims to show the different potential uses of silymarin in poultry production system regarding its effect on production performance, antioxidant status, carcass traits, immune response, and intestinal health.