Utilization of Chinese Herbal Feed Additives in Animal Production

Agricultural Sciences in China

August 2011

2011, 10(8): 1262-1272

Utilization of Chinese Herbal Feed Additives in Animal Production LIU Hua-wei1*, TONG Jian-ming2 and ZHOU Dao-wei1 1 2

Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jilin 130012, P.R.China State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R. China

Abstract The experimental knowledge on efficacy, possible modes of action and aspects of application of Chinese herbs as feed additives for animal production are reviewed in this article. Chinese herbs commonly contain protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and mineral which are necessary nutrients to the growth of animal. Polysaccharide, organic acid, alkaloids, and essential oils involved in Chinese herbs can improve the immune function of livestock. Currently, numerous studies have demonstrated anti-oxidative and anti-microbial efficacy and the assumption that Chinese herbs may improve the flavor of meat, which has been confirmed by some observations, but the mode of this action is still unclear. Moreover, several observations support the hypothesis that herbal feed additives may favorably affect gut functions (e.g., enzyme activity, microbial eubiosis) in vitro. Such effects may explain a considerable number of practical studies with livestock reporting improved production performance after providing herbal feed additives. In summary, available evidence indicates that herbal feed additives may have the potential to add to the set of non-antibiotic growth promoters for use in livestock, such as organic acids and probiotics. However, a systematic approach toward the efficacy, mode of action and safety of herbal compounds used as feed additives for animal production seems to be required in the future. Key words: anti-microbial, anti-oxidative, Chinese herbs, animal production

INTRODUCTION In 2006, the European Union banned the use of antibiotic feed additives, and efforts are being made to restrict their use outside the European Union because of speculated risk for generating antibiotic resistance in pathogenic microbiota. Consequently, many approaches have been attempted to control or prevent the clinical diseases and maximize growth performance. Chinese herbs which are seem to be candidates of substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters have gained increasing interest. Chinese herbal feed additives are Chinese herb used in animal feeding to improve the performance of livestock (Zhang H Y Received 3 August, 2010

et al. 2005). Although some Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years, our knowledge is still limited regarding their modes of action with the concepts of modern medicine because the ideology underlying Chinese herbs is quite different from that of modern/western world. Further complications arise because herbal feed additives may vary widely with respect to botanical origin, processing and composition. Moreover, the results of most studies are obtained by blends of various active compositions and the studies focus on the effects on performance rather than the physiological impacts. In this context, the following provides an overview of recent knowledge on the use of Chinese herbal feed additives in animal diets, possible mode of action and further research.

Accepted 1 December, 2010

LIU Hua-wei, Ph D, Tel: +86-431-85542206, E-mail: [email protected]; Correspondence ZHOU Dao-wei, Professor, Tel/Fax: +86-431-85542206, E-mail: [email protected] © 2011, CAAS. All rights reserved. Published by Elsevier Ltd. doi:10.1016/S1671-2927(11)60118-1

Utilization of Chinese Herbal Feed Additives in Animal Production

GENERAL ASPECTS OF CHINESE HERBAL FEED ADDITIVES In China, Chinese herbs feed additives are commonly classified to various types according their functions with the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, such as relieving food stagnation (Tangerine Peel, Medicated Leaven, Malt); reducing heat and detoxification (Honeysuckle Flower, Bupleurum, Sophora Root); promoting blood circulation and metabolism (Chinese Angelica, Safflower, Chinese Motherwort, Acanthopanax Root Bark, Szechuan Lovage Root), replenishing the vital energy and nourishing the blood (Astragalus, Codonopsis Root, China Dodder, Fleeceflower Root, Privet Fruit), tranquilization for pain (Polygala, Sweetflag Rhizome, Seman Platycladi, Spine Date Seed), expelling intestinal parasites (Betel Nut, Stemona, Rangoon Creeper Fruit with Seeds), and antisepsis and anti-oxidation (Eucommia Bark) (Zhang H Y et al. 2005; Lv et al. 2007).

MODE OF ACTION OF CHINESE HERBAL FEED ADDITIVES Nutritional effects In general, Chinese herbs, which contain abundant protein, carbohydrate, vitamin, fat, and mineral, can play an important part on nutritive equilibrium, enhancing growth performance and modifying physiological function. For example, besides protein, carbohydrate and fat, Chinese jujube contains vitamin A, C and abundant Ca, Fe, P, which are necessary components for livestock. Pine needle meal contain 92-92.2% dry matter (DM), 7.8-8.96% crude protein (CP), 7.8-8.96% ether extract (EE), 26.84-27.12% crude fiber (CF), 37% nitrogen-free extract (NFE), 3-6% ASH, 6.33% amino acid (AA), 3.8 mg kg-1 VB1, 215 mg kg-1 Mn, 38 mg kg-1 Zn, and other microelements (Li 2001).

Antimicrobial actions Chinese herbs are well known to exert antimicrobial actions in vitro against important pathogens, including

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fungi (Dorman and Deans 2000; Burt 2004; Si et al. 2006; Ozer et al. 2007). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 3.2, 3.2, 50, and 100 mg mL-1, respectively. MIC of Forsythia Fruit against foregoing bacteria was 3.2, 6.3, 6.3, 50 mg mL-1, respectively (Luo and Lu 2002). Some studies in vitro revealed MIC of pure active substances was better than Chinese herbs. For example, the diameter of antibacterial circle of natural extract of Forsythia Fruit against Salmonella pullorum was 22 mm, MIC was 1.563 mg mL-1 and against Salmonella typhimurium was 20.6 mm and 3.125 mg mL-1, respectively. Herbal feed additives including different active substances exert their antimicrobial activity through different mechanisms. The one possible antimicrobial mode of action is considered to arise mainly from the potential of active substances to intrude into the bacterial cell membrane, disintegrate membrane structures, and cause ion leakage (Newton et al. 2002; Burt 2004; Hashemi and Davoodi 2010). Moreover, some studies reported that tannins as active substance involved in herbal feed additives acted by iron deprivation, hydrogen bounding or non-specific interactions with vital protein such as enzymes (Scalbert 1991; Chung et al. 1993). Karou et al. (2006) observed that the mechanism by which alkaloid displays an antimicrobial activity was based on the ability to inhibit DNA synthesis. Another implication of the antimicrobial action of herbal feed additives is reducing the risk of microbial contamination of carcasses. Indeed, there are isolated reports on the beneficial effects of essential oils from oregano on the microbial load of total viable bacteria, as well as of specific pathogens (e.g., Salmonella) on broiler carcasses (Aksit et al. 2006). However, available data are still too limited to allow reliable conclusions on the possible efficacy of certain herbal feed additives to improve carcass hygiene.

Enhancing immune functions Among the immune active substances including in Chinese herbs, polysaccharide is a main immune active substance therefore it is known as the foundation of enhancing immune function. Chen et al. (2003) ob-

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served that achyranthan and astragalan polysaccharides increase nitric oxide and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production of splenocytes. In addition, some studies revealed that ginsenosides and astragalus saponins strengthen the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system, elevate the lymphocyte transformation rate and promote antibody formation (Gao et al. 2001). Total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides enhance the humoral and cellular immune response and stimulate macrophage phagocytosis (Liu and Dai 2007). The use of oxymatrine in mouse feed revealed spleen T-, B-cell proliferation (Liu and Dai 2007).

Anti-oxidative action Anti-oxidative properties of Chinese herbs are well described (Craig 1999; Nakatani 2000; Wei and Shibamoto 2007). Among the anti-oxidative constituents including in Chinese herbs, the volatile oils from the Labiatae family (mint plants) have been attracting the greatest interest, especially products from rosemary. Their antioxidative activity arises from phenolic acids, such as rosmarinic acid (Cuppett and Hall 1998). Other Labiatae species with significant anti-oxidative properties are thyme and oregano, which contain large amounts of the monoterpenes thymol and carvacrol (Cuppett and Hall 1998). Plant species from the families of Zingiberaceae (e.g., ginger and curcuma) and Umbelliferae (e.g., anise and coriander), as well as plants rich in flavonoids (e.g., green tea) and anthocyans (e.g., many fruits), are also described as exerting antioxidative properties (Nakatani 2000; Wei and Shibamoto 2007). The anti-oxidative mode of action is considered to arise mainly from scavenging free radical and regulating the activity of anti-oxidative enzyme (Liu et al. 2010). Charles and Huang (2009) found mRNA transcription of the enzymes SOD was increased by the treatment of sweet cassava polysaccharide in the liver tissues of CCl4-induced hepatitis rats. The anti-oxidant property of many Chinese herbs may be assumed to contribute to protection of feed lipids from oxidative damage, like the antioxidants usually added to diets (e.g., α-tocopheryl acetate or butylated hydroxytoluene). Although this aspect has not been explicitly investigated for animal feeds, there is a wide practice of successfully using flavonoids, essential oils,

LIU Hua-wei et al.

especially those from the rosemary, as natural antioxidants in human food (Cuppett and Hall 1998). The principal potential of herbal feed additives containing phenolic compounds to improve the oxidative stability of animal-derived products has been demonstrated for poultry meat (Basmacioglu et al. 2004; Govaris et al. 2004; Giannenas et al. 2005; FlorouPaneri et al. 2006), pork (Janz et al. 2007), rabbit meat (Botsoglou et al. 2004b; Liu et al. 2009), and eggs (Botsoglou et al. 2005). Oxidative stability was also shown to be improved with other herbal products (Botsoglou et al. 2004a; Schiavone et al. 2007). Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether these herbal anti-oxidants are able to replace the anti-oxidants usually added to the feeds (e.g., α-tocopherols) to a quantitatively relevant extent under conditions of common feeding practice. Recent studies have shown that herbal feed additives with anti-oxidant properties which cope with an excess of free radical produced upon oxidative stress could be used to alleviate the negative effects of high ambient temperature (Tuzcu et al. 2008; Wang et al. 2008). Liu et al. (2010) reported that dietary alfalfa polysaccharides could improve the growth performance through modulating the antioxidant status in heatstressed rabbit.

Specific effect on meat flavor and gut functions Herbal feed additives are often claimed to improve the flavor of meat. Flavor of meat is a complicated indicator, which arises from many factors. At present, most studies focus on amino acid, fat, fat acid, glycogen, inosine monophosphate (IMP), and so on (Guo and Liu 2003; Chen et al. 2004). Some studies showed the herb (e.g., glycine, garlic, tea) could increase the contents of IMP, glutamic acid, glycine, and intra muscular fat (IMF), and improve savor and aroma of meat (Wang et al. 2000; Sun et al. 2002; Wang et al. 2004; Nie et al. 2006). Moreover, Wang et al. (1996) who added herbal additives into broilers’ diet, reported herbal additives change the fatty acid composition of muscle, especially increase the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. However, the numbers of studies investigating the mode of herbal products on flavor are quite limited. A wide range of Chinese herbs are known to exert

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Utilization of Chinese Herbal Feed Additives in Animal Production

beneficial actions within the digestive tract, such as laxative and spasmolytic effects, as well as prevention from flatulence (Chrubasik et al. 2005). Furthermore, stimulation of digestive secretions (e.g., saliva), bile and mucus, and enhancing enzyme activity are proposed to be a core mode of nutritional action (Platel and Srinivasan 2004). In vitro activities of rat pancreatic lipase and amylase were shown to be significantly enhanced when brought into contact with various Chinese herbs and herbal extracts (Rao et al. 2003). Zhu et al. (2002) found greater activities of amylase, lipase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin in weaned piglets fed with herbal additives. Similarly, essential oils used as feed additives for broilers were shown to enhance the activities of trypsin and amylase (Lee et al. 2003; Jang et al. 2004). Glucose absorption from the small intestine was accelerated in rats fed anise oil (Kreydiyyeh et al. 2003). Furthermore, Manzanilla et al. (2004) fed a combination of essential oils and capsaicin to swine and observed that gastric emptying was slowed down by these feed additives. Herbal feed additives were also reported to stimulate intestinal secretion of mucus in broilers, an effect that was assumed to impair adhesion of pathogens and thus to contribute to stabilizing the microbial eubiosis in the gut of the animals (Jamroz et al. 2006). These observations support the hypothesis that herbal feed additives may favorably affect gut functions, but the numbers of in vivo studies with livestock are still quite limited. Saponins (e.g., from Yucca schidigera) are proposed to reduce intestinal ammonia formation, and thus aerial pollution of housing environment, which is considered an important health stress, especially for young animals (Francis et al. 2002). Studies with rats confirmed the existence of active components in Y. schidigera extracts that lower intestinal urease activity and enzymes involved in the metabolic urea cycle (Killeen et al. 1998; Duffy et al. 2001). Reduced intestinal and fecal urease activities were also found in broilers fed such extracts (Nazeer et al. 2002). However, yucca extracts were reported to contain subfractions with partially antagonistic properties on intestinal urease activity and ammonia formation (Killeen et al. 1998). Thus, further research seems to be required to clarify the potential of saponins as feed additives for livestock diets.

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A P P L I C AT I O N O F H E R B A L F E E D ADDITIVES TO ANIMAL PRODUCTION Swine production Literatures on the effect of herbal feed additives on production performance in swine are summarized in Table. The data vary widely from depressions in production performance to improvements. The primary mode of action of herbal feed additives arises from affecting the ecosystem of gastrointestinal microbiota through controlling potential pathogens (Roth and Kirchgessner 1998; Kroismayr et al. 2007). This applies especially to critical phases of an animal’s production cycle characterized by high susceptibility to digestive disorders, such as the weaning phase of piglets. Because of a more stabilized intestinal health, animals are less exposed to microbial toxins and other undesired microbial metabolites, such as ammonia and biogenic amines (Eckel et al. 1992). Consequently, herbal feed additives relieve the host animals from immune defense stress during critical situations and increase the intestinal availability of essential nutrients for absorption, thereby helping animals to grow better within the framework of their genetic potential (Zhang X H 2005; Zhou et al. 2005a). Improved digestive capacity in the small intestine may be considered an indirect side effect of herbal feed additives stabilizing the microbial eubiosis in the gut. Such an effect has been shown in swine (Jamroz et al. 2003; Hernandez et al. 2004). An improved prececal digestive capacity reduces the flux of fermentable matter into the hindgut, and thus lessens the postileal microbial growth and the excretion of bacterial matter in feces, respectively. Because bacterial protein is the dominant fraction of total fecal protein, an improved prececal digestive capacity may result indirectly in an increased apparent digestibility of dietary protein (calculated as the disappearance rate from intake until fecal excretion). Such an effect has been demonstrated for herbal feed additives in pigs (Oetting et al. 2006; Stoni et al. 2006).

Ruminant production Some studies on cattle and sheep indicated herbal feed

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LIU Hua-wei et al.

Table Effect of herbal feed additives on production performance in swine and poultry Herbal feed additive Swine Bazhen Herbal extracts Echinacea purpurea Chinese rhubarb Fennel oil Caraway oil Poultry Oregano Oregano Oregano Garlic Thymol Herb mix Herb mix Herb mix Herb mix 1)

Dietary dose (g kg-1)

10 7.5 5 2.5 0.1 0.1 0.15 0.30 5.0 1.0 0.1 0.25 0.5 1.0 2.0

Effect1) FI

BW

ADG

FCR

-14 -17 +4 +17 +3 0

+5 -15 +5 +32 +6 +3

-18 -3 -2 -16 -3 -3

-6 -3 +5 -5 +1 0 +5 +2 +1

-2 +1 +7 -5 +1 +2 +2 +1 +1

-4 -4 -2 0 0 -2 +3 +1 0

Reference

Lien et al. 2007 Namkung et al. 2004 Maass et al. 2005 Straub et al. 2005 Schone et al. 2006 Schone et al. 2006 Basmacioglu et al. 2004 Basmacioglu et al. 2004 Florou-Paneri et al. 2006 Sarica et al. 2005 Lee et al. 2003 Guo et al. 2004 Guo et al. 2004 Guo et al. 2004 Guo et al. 2004

Percentage of difference from untreated control.

additives not only raised the average milk yield but also had an important preventive role in Hidden Mastitis (Sun et al. 2005). In addition, herbal feed additives could improve milk quality, raised the total solids, protein, fat, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn contents of milk (Wu et al. 2005). Ma D Y et al. (2005) reported herbal feed additives added into the dairy cow diet increased the milk yield by 12.88% (P<0.01) and significantly reduced the incidence of mastitis. Yan et al. (2005), who added the herbal feed additives including Astragalus, Polygonum multiflorum, Liquorice, Coptis, and Medlar into dairy cow diet, observed no significant differences in milk fat percentage and contents of milk dry matter, non-fat milk solids, milk protein and lactose, whereas a positive effect on milk yield and reducing the incidence of mastitis. Similar findings were obtained by Zhou et al. (2005b), who indicated herbal feed additives not only had curative effects on Hidden Mastitis but also had no residue in milk. Herbal feed additives are often described as potential immunoenhancer and buffer for easing heat stress. Wu et al. (2005) who added the herbal feed additives including Gypsum, Woad Root, Astragalus as buffer for easing heat stress into dairy cow diet, observed herbal feed additives not only improved milk yield but also raised the cortisol levels in cow’s blood. The results showed the probable mode of easing heat stress arose from improving the secretion of cortisol. For sheep, Zuo et al. (2005) investigated the influence of herbal feed additives on Small Tail Han sheep digest-

ibility and the growth performance and hormone levels. Results showed herbal feed additives significantly improved the average daily gain (ADG), in particular, sheep fed 1.5 and 2.0% herbal feed additives showed a significant difference in the apparent digestibility of organic matter, CP, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and a significant increasing tendency of serum growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor.

Poultry production In recent years, herbal feed additives have attracted increasing interest as an alternative feeding strategy to replace antibiotic growth promoters in poultry production. As shown in Table, the majority of experimental data indicated herbal feed additives improve production performance in poultry. In addition, some studies observed that herbal feed additives could improve the carcass traits and meat quality of poultry. Hu et al. (2005), who added 1% herbal feed additives composed of Eucommia, Bark, Sodium Glutamate into AA broiler chicks, observed that herbal feed additives enhanced the percentage of lean meat percentage, chest muscle, thigh muscle and water holding capacity (P<0.05), reduced the percentage of abdominal fat, drip losses, and cooking loss (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in dressed percentage, percentage of eviscerated yield, percentage of half-eviscerated yield and pH of meat. In addition, there are some evidences that

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Utilization of Chinese Herbal Feed Additives in Animal Production

herbal feed additives can also improve the immune function (Dong et al. 2005; Duan et al. 2005; Ma Y F et al. 2005). For example, Gao et al. (2001) reported Astraglan and Astragaloside extracted from Astragalus markedly increased the conA-induced proliferation of T lymphocytes. Astraglan significantly promoted the LPS-induced proliferation of B lymphocytes at concentrations of 10 μg mL -1. Dong et al. (2007) observed polysavone (alfalfa extract) improved (P<0.05) the relative thymus and spleen weights at 6 wk of age and the bursa weights at 4 and 5 wk of age compared with the control group. At 4 and 6 wk of age, the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes in the Polysavone group was significantly greater (P<0.05) than that in the control group. When birds were 4 and 5 wk of age, polysavone resulted in a significant increase in serum anti-Newcastle disease virus hemagglutination inhibition antibody titer. For laying hen, the herbal feed additives have similar effects. Huang (2002), who fed herbal feed additives containing Astragalus, Figwort Root, Pine Needles, Viola, Indigo to ISA brown laying hens, indicated the herb-treated groups had higher laying rate and average egg size and better egg quality than the control group.

Aquaculture production Clove Flower Bud and Orange Peel were claimed to improve the flavor of fish feed (Guo et al. 2005). Crucian fed with herbal additives containing Baical Skullcap Root as a main active substance showed higher body weight gain and body fat, protein content and lower feed coefficient. It was concluded that herbal feed additives could improve the meat quality of crucian carp (Hu et al. 2005). Attempts have been made to determine the antimicrobial actions of herbal feed additives by adding them to fish diets. Liu et al. (2004), who added Astragalus, Woad Root, Astragalus, Poria, and Houttuynia to carp diets, observed fish fed with Chinese herbs had more intestinal bacteria including Bacillus and Corynebacterium which control group did not have. Moreover, these Chinese herbs changed the composition of predominant bacteria, increased the proportion on Bacillus and reduced the populations of Aeromonas, Plesiomonas, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, and Enterobacter. Besides fish, application of herbal feed additives to

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shrimp also had efficient (Wang and Zhou 2005). Guo et al. (2005) who investigated the influence of varied herbal feed additives concentrations on Litopenaeus Vannamei, reported herbal feed additives (mainly Astragalus) significantly improved the growth performance and enhanced the immune factors activity, increased shrimp survival rates. In particular, shrimp fed with 1 and 2% herbal feed additives had higher BW gain, phenoloxidase activity, peroxidase activity, antibacterial activity than the control group (P<0.01). Moreover, the immune protection rate of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was 50-65%.

Rabbit production Some Chinese herbs (e.g., Nippon Hawthorn Fruit, Fructus Hordei Germinatus, and Medicated Leaven were known as improving the appetite and growth performance for rabbits (Zhao et al. 2005). Meng (1994), who fed herbal feed additives containing Cang Zhu, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Folium Isatidis, Pasqueflower, Astragalus, Purslane, Plantain, and Licorice Roots Northwest Origin to angora long hair rabbit, reported herbal feed additives increased birth weight and average daily gain by 18 and 19%, respectively, improved feed conversion ratio and production of rabbit hair. Liu et al. (2010) observed that the use of polysaccharides extracted from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) improved the growth performance of heatstressed rabbits. Moreover, Chinese herbs were useful to improve the reproductive performance. Zhang and Yuan (2006), who added herbal feed additives including Pasqueflower, Apocynum, Copper leaf, and so on, observed herbal feed additives could increase fecundation ratio, litter size and newborn survival rate by 20.0, 37.3 and 16.3%, respectively. In practical conditions, some breeder suggested that herbal feed additives had efficacy on disease control and prevention (Guo 1994; Yang 1994). Zhang and Yuan (2006) reported herbal additives reduced the incidence of coccidiosis and dysentery significantly.

F U R T H E R C O N S I D E R AT I O N S O N CHINESE HERBAL FEED ADDITIVES Besides efficacy, the primary principle of application

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of Chinese herbal feed additives to livestock is safe to the animal, the user, the consumer of the animal product, and the environment. For exposed animals, much attention should be paid to adverse health effects of Chinese herbal feed additives, especially in the case of an accidental overdose. Regarding the user (e.g., feed manufacturer, farmer), the handling of pure formulations of such feed additives usually required protective measures because they are potentially irritating and could cause allergic contact dermatitis (Burt 2004). With respect to consumer safety, the herbal feed additives can not be relieved from determination of possible undesired residues in products derived from animals fed those products. For example, Stoni et al. (2006) reported almost complete absorption of carvacrol and thymol in swine fed these extract from Chinese herbs and detected their glucuronic acid and sulfate metabolites in blood plasma and kidney. Because the metabolic activity (e.g., absorption, potential to accumulate in edible tissues) differs widely among herbal compounds, safety needs to be assessed separately for each individual herbal feed additive. The putative efficacy of Chinese herbs mainly relies on empirical or anecdotal data and tradition of use, which frequently cannot satisfy the requirements of application into livestock production. Thus, it is necessary to establish the pharmacological basis for the actions of Chinese herbs. Currently, an approach is to extract the active ingredients from Chinese herbs. However, some studies showed that the pharmacological effect of extracts of Chinese herbs isolated in their pure state differ from that of the whole herbs. Moreover, several Chinese herbs are usually mixed to achieve a pharmacological effect, thereby making it extremely difficult to attribute the effect to a particular herb. Thus, it is very important to note that it is a need to define a systematic research strategy that may be suitable for evaluating the Chinese herbs. Noteworthy is the fact that the Chinese herbs from different regions and seasons have different efficacy and contents of active substances. At present, it is difficult to make a correct assessment of efficacy and supervise quality because of no uniform quality standards and standard formula. Thus, further research seems to be required to standardize methods for their extraction.

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CONCLUSION In conclusion, Chinese herbal feed additives are claimed to exert antioxidant, enhancing immune functions, antimicrobial and growth-promoting effects in livestock. In the future, a systematic approach is needed to evaluate the efficacy and mode of action for Chinese herbal feed additives and each of type and dose of active compound, as well as toxicity studies. The development of suitable analytical technologies which are capable of assaying the contents of active compound and establishing the structure-activity relations will aid in establishing uniform quality standards and standard formula for utilizing herbal feed additives efficiently and safely. Moreover, the current experimental results seem to justify the assumption that Chinese herbal feed additives may have the potential to be a candidate of substitute for antibiotic to promote production performance and productivity of animal.

Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30970493, 30800798) for financing the research.

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