Hi, essential oils such as menthol originating from plants have antimicrobial activity and have toxic effects in poultry only when administered at very high doses.

Antioxidant activity and hypo-cholesterolemic effects have been reported in chickens.

The effect of essential oils in poultry may not only be

confined to the microflora, but may extend to animal metabolism. Knowing the activity and effects of individual

compounds is useful to formulate mixtures of compounds so as to enhance efficacy.

In conclusion, dietary essential oils may be used as alternatives to antibiotics, but whether their effects on growth performance are a consequence of anti-microbial activity needs to be studied further.

Best regards.

Salam sister

Antimicrobial compounds  have been used for decades in poultry diets to increase performance and decrease morbidity particularly in broiler chickens. However, antibiotics ban due to consumer pressure related to the potential development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has resulted in the development of non-antibiotic feed additives that may also improve broiler performance. such as, aromatic plants and their extracts  as growth and health promoters. It is known that most of their properties are due to the essential oils (EOs) and other secondary plant metabolites. it documented that , EOs enhance production of digestive secretions, stimulate blood circulation, exert antioxidant properties, reduce levels of pathogenic bacteria and may enhance immune status.

with best regards 

Phytogenic feed additives are derived from plants and known for numerous

beneficial biological activities, improving animal health state and

overall growth performance. In addition to anti-microbial, fungicidal, or

anti-viral activities, phytogenics can modulate inflammatory processes

in the intestine and improve cell protection due to their anti-oxidative

activity. In this study, the potential of 3 phytogenic feed additives, which

are based on spices and medicinal plants and their essential oils and

extracts, to influence the activity of inflammatory and anti-oxidative

parameters was investigated in vitro. Effects of the 3 phytogenic feed

additives (with thymol, menthol, and trans-anethole as main ingredients,

respectively) were investigated in vitro using a neonate piglet jejunal cell

line. To study inflammation restricting properties, intestinal inflammation

was simulated by stimulation of cells with TNF-α. Activation levels

of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative parameters were determined

using ELISA technique. Two out of 3 tested phytogenic feed additives

were able to downregulate TNF-α induced inflammatory markers. The

third product did not exhibit anti-inflammatory characteristics, however

it was shown to improve the intracellular anti-oxidative status. All 3

analyzed phytogenic feed additives indicated beneficial effects on the

porcine jejunal cell line in vitro. This study points out, that phytogenics

in livestock nutrition could be a suitable tool to improve animal health

and growth performance. Continuing feeding trials will be conducted

to investigate the biological activities of phytogenics in vivo.

Dear zahira

eppermint (Mentha L.) is an herbal plant which contains various types of essential oils, such as menthol, mentone, cavone, methyl acetate, and piperitone  These essential oils promote biological effects such as antimicrobial growth antioxidation , stimulation of bile acid secretion , growth improvement, and ammonia reduction.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/japr.2013-00813

hello i agree with Jameela Esmaeel 

Iagree with Dr. Jameela

Hi

I agree with Dr. Saad

regards

thanks

Dear Dr. Zahera

essential oils enhance production of digestive secretions, stimulate blood circulation, exert antioxidant properties, reduce levels of pathogenic bacteria and may enhance immune status.