Supplementation of Morinda citrifolia in Poultry Diets to Improve Performance, Antioxidant Status, and Immunity

Abstract

The poultry industry plays a crucial role in supplying animal-derived protein to meet the increasing nutritional demands of the global population. However, intensive poultry production systems often expose birds to various physiological challenges, including heat stress, oxidative imbalance, and immune suppression. Consequently, the use of natural feed additives has gained increasing attention as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters. This review evaluates the potential of Morinda citrifolia L. (noni) as a functional phytogenic feed additive in poultry nutrition. Scientific literature was collected through electronic databases including Elsevier, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar using keywords related to broilers, flavonoids, meat quality, Morinda citrifolia, and production performance. The available evidence indicates that M. citrifolia contains numerous bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, iridoids, phenolics, and polysaccharides that exert antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and metabolic regulatory effects. Dietary supplementation with noni in various forms (juice, extract, powder, or leaf meal) has been shown to improve growth performance, feed efficiency, egg production, and product quality in poultry. Additionally, noni supplementation enhances antioxidant capacity by reducing lipid peroxidation markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity. Immunologically, M. citrifolia modulates innate and adaptive immune responses through the regulation of cytokine production and activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. These biological effects contribute to improved physiological resilience against environmental stressors and infectious challenges. Overall, Morinda citrifolia demonstrates significant potential as a natural feed additive to support sustainable, antibiotic-free poultry production while improving productivity, product quality, and animal health.