Pluchea dioscoridis (Barnûf) as a potential phytogenic feed additive in poultry nutrition: current evidence, mechanisms, and research gaps

SUMMARYPluchea dioscoridis (L.) DC. commonly known as Barnûf, is a phytochemically diverse medicinal plant distributed mainly in North Africa and the Middle East. This review evaluates its potential relevance to poultry nutrition while distinguishing direct evidence for P. dioscoridis from evidence obtained with other Pluchea species, particularly P. indica. Available studies indicate that P. dioscoridis contains phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and other bioactive constituents and exhibits antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities in experimental systems. Direct evidence in poultry remains limited, and several reported poultry responses, including effects on growth performance and blood variables, derive from studies of P. indica rather than P. dioscoridis. Evidence for poultry gut-microbiota modulation and intestinal barrier effects is currently insufficient to establish efficacy. Non-poultry studies provide mechanistic hypotheses concerning antioxidant, inflammatory, metabolic, and tissue-protective pathways but should not be interpreted as evidence of poultry efficacy. Overall, Barnûf represents a promising but insufficiently validated phytogenic candidate for poultry nutrition. Future research should prioritize authenticated plant material, standardized extraction procedures, dose-response studies, controlled poultry trials, gut microbiota characterisation, molecular mechanistic analyses, and comprehensive safety assessment.