The impact of dietary guava ( Psidium guajava L.) on some livestock production systems

Abstract

Due to the growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance and the potential for a ban on antibiotic growth promoters worldwide, there is an increasing demand to find alternatives to antimicrobials in livestock production. One of these alternatives is herbal extracts or phytobiotics that already are used as dietary supplements to improve the general health conditions. Guava ( Psidium guajava L.) has a long history of nutritional and medicinal properties. All the body parts of guava and the by-products have been applied effectively in livestock systems. The guava plant is a good source of nutrients as it is rich in flavonoids, phenols, tannins, essential oils, lectins, vitamins, fatty acids, etc. All parts of the guava plant including leaves, pulp, and seeds have been used as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheic, anticancer, immuno-stimulant, growth promotor, cough sedative, and hypocholesterolemic. Therefore, this review was planned to focus on the impact of using dietary guava on the different health parameters of some livestock production systems including poultry and rabbits.