Dietary use of Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris as anticoccidial alternatives in poultry

Abstract Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Eimeria and whose propagation has a tremendous economic impact on poultry production. The parasite develops in the intestinal tract and causes disturbances in homeostasis that may lead to the death of the animal. Anticoccidial drugs and vaccination are the main preventive measures used against this disease. However, the rapid spread of drug resistance and the emergence of environmental pollutants have led to search other alternatives that do not hinder the health and productivity of broilers. The use of medicinal plants or plant-derived products could be one of these approaches; in fact, plants are reservoirs of bioactive compounds that could be developed as new chemical entities. Two members of the Lamiaceae family, Rosmarinus officinalis and Thymus vulgaris included in the Algerian pharmacopoeia have been reviewed herein, as well as their anticoccidial activity. We discuss their potential uses as natural growth promoters, referring their phytochemical constituents and biological properties that could play a crucial role in improving the symptoms caused by coccidiosis in poultry.