Black pepper (Piper nigrum Lam) as a natural feed additive and source of beneficial nutrients and phytochemicals in chicken nutrition

Abstract Tropical countries are rich in medicinal herbs that have the potentials to improve poultry productivity and health by increasing digestive enzyme activity, immune responses, and modulation of gut microbiota composition through the action of their bioactive constituents. Presently, black pepper (BP), one of such tropical herbs is gaining popularity as a substitute for antibiotics in poultry production, which have been found to promote the development of anti-resistant strains of bacteria and incorporation of drug residues in animal products. BP belongs to the genus - Piper, species – nigrum, and family - Piperaceae. The leaves, fruits, and seeds of BP are moderate in essential nutrients such as minerals and vitamins, but low in anti-nutritional factors. It is also high in important bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids. These bioactive compounds play important roles in regulating the normal physiological functions of animals such as growth, egg production, and immune responses. Therefore, the aim of this review is to pool evidence on the chemical composition of BP that acts as feed additives and their mode of action in enhancing performance and product quality, as well as the reasons for the inconsistent results among authors on the feed additive value of BP in chicken nutrition.