Dietary licorice improves carcass yield, hepatocellular protection, gut health, oxidative status, and cecal bacterial balance in broiler chickens.
- 1Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida Park, Roodepoort, 1709, South Africa.
- 2Department of Agricultural Science, Faculty of Vocational and Technology Education, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, P.M.B. 1033, Nigeria.
Abstract
Over the past decade, phytotherapy such as licorice has attracted research as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production, driven by rising concerns over antimicrobial resistance. However, the consistency of its effects across productive, physiological, and health outcomes remains inconsistent. This meta-analysis quantitatively synthesized published experimental evidence on the effects of dietary licorice on growth performance, carcass yield, blood indices, visceral organs, oxidative status, intestinal morphology, and cecal bacterial balance in broiler chickens. A systematic literature search identified studies published between 2010 and 2025, and effect sizes were computed (Hedges' g; 95% confidence interval). Pooled estimates were derived under the random-effects model using the restricted maximum likelihood estimator, with between-study heterogeneity characterized by I² and the Q-statistic. Univariable mixed-effects meta-regression was conducted to identify study-level moderators of treatment response, and publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and the Rosenberg fail-safe N criterion. Dietary licorice did not affect feed intake or the feed conversion ratio, but it did increase body weight gain (BWG; SMD = 0.289; P = 0.002), breast, thigh, gizzard, and bursa weights (P < 0.05). Gut integrity also improved with the villus height/crypt depth ratio (SMD = 0.931; P = 0.041), and Lactobacillus spp. counts (SMD = 0.266; P = 0.003) increased, while Escherichia coli populations were suppressed (SMD = -1.737; P < 0.001). Overall, the findings support that licorice enhances body weight gain, with route, duration, sex, and strain moderating efficacy.
Related
- Rv2061c, a Putative F420-Dependent Oxidoreductase, is Required for Tolerance to Malachite Green and Other Antimicrobials and Oxidative Stress Protection in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Tc17-driven antibody-independent mucosal immunity is critical for protection against extracellular bacterial pneumonia
- Hepatocellular carcinoma screening in patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis aware of their HCV status improves survival: A modeling approach
- Bacterial toxin sensing induces transient inflammasome-dependent innate immune memory that improves survival during sepsis
- Sharpness-Aware Minimization (SAM) Improves Classification Accuracy of Bacterial Raman Spectral Data Enabling Portable Diagnostics
BibTeX
@article{egbu2026dietary,
title = {{Dietary licorice improves carcass yield, hepatocellular protection, gut health, oxidative status, and cecal bacterial balance in broiler chickens.}},
author = {Chidozie F Egbu and Christiaan J Smit},
journal = {Veterinary and animal science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.vas.2026.100892},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898128},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Dietary licorice improves carcass yield, hepatocellular protection, gut health, oxidative status, and cecal bacterial balance in broiler chickens.
AU - Chidozie F Egbu
AU - Christiaan J Smit
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Veterinary and animal science
DO - 10.1016/j.vas.2026.100892
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898128
AB - Over the past decade, phytotherapy such as licorice has attracted research as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler production, driven by rising concerns over antimicrobial resistance. However, the consistency of its effects across productive, physiological, and health outcomes remains inconsistent. This meta-analysis quantitatively synthesized published experimental evidence on the effects of dietary licorice on growth performance, carcass yield, blood indices, visceral organs, oxidative status, intestinal morphology, and cecal bacterial balance in broiler chickens. A systematic literature search identified studies published between 2010 and 2025, and effect sizes were computed (Hedges' g; 95% confidence interval). Pooled estimates were derived under the random-effects model using the restricted maximum likelihood estimator, with between-study heterogeneity characterized by I² and the Q-statistic. Univariable mixed-effects meta-regression was conducted to identify study-level moderators of treatment response, and publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and the Rosenberg fail-safe N criterion. Dietary licorice did not affect feed intake or the feed conversion ratio, but it did increase body weight gain (BWG; SMD = 0.289; P = 0.002), breast, thigh, gizzard, and bursa weights (P < 0.05). Gut integrity also improved with the villus height/crypt depth ratio (SMD = 0.931; P = 0.041), and Lactobacillus spp. counts (SMD = 0.266; P = 0.003) increased, while Escherichia coli populations were suppressed (SMD = -1.737; P < 0.001). Overall, the findings support that licorice enhances body weight gain, with route, duration, sex, and strain moderating efficacy.
SN - 2451-943X
ER -