Afsharmanesh M and Pourreza J, 2005. Effect of calcium, citric acid, ascorbic acid, vitamin D3 on the efficacy of microbial phytase in broiler starters fed wheat-based diets on performance, bone mineralization and ileal digestibility. International Journal of Poultry Science 4: 418–424.
Al-Harthi MA, 2002. Performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicks as affected by different dietary types and levels of herbs and as non classical growth promoters. Egypt Journal of Poultry Science 22: 325-343.
Anonymous, 2004. Handbook of Arian broiler management. 3rd Ed. Poultry Support Center Publishing pp: 20-29 (in Persian).
Antongiovanni M, Buccioni A, Petacchi F, Leeson S, Minieri S, Martini A and Cecchi R, 2007. Butyric acid glycerides in the diet of broiler chickens: effects on gut histology and carcass composition. Italian Journal of Animal Science 6: 19-25.
Aroiee H, Mosapoor S and Hosaini M, 2005. Effect of essential oils of fennel, caraway and rosemaryon green house white fly (trialeurodes vaporariorum). Kmitl Science 5: 506-510.
Banks WJ, 1993. Applied Veterinary Histology. 3rd Ed. Mosby Year Book Inc, Missouri pp: 350-354.
Conner DE, 1993.Naturally occurring compounds. In: antimicrobials in foods. Davidson PM and branen Al (eds). New York. USA pp: 441-468.
Cross DE, Mcdevitt RM, Hillman K and Acamovic T, 2007. The effect of herbs and their associated essential oils on performance, dietary digestibility and gut microflora in chickens from 7 to 28 days of age. British Poultry Science 48: 496–506.
Da Silva MA, Colnago GL, Pessotti BMS, Rodrigues MRA, Zanini MS, Zanini SF, Nunes LC and Martins IVF, 2009. Intestinal mucosa structure of broiler chickens infected experimentally with Eimeria tenella and treated with essential oil of oregano. Ciencia Rural 39: 1471-1477.
Dellmann HD and Eurell J, 1998. Veterinary Histology.5th Ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia pp: 188.
Duncan DB, 1955. Multiple range and multiple F test. Biometrics 11: 1-42.
Emami NK, Samie A, Rahmani HR and Ruiz-Feria CA, 2012. The effect of peppermint essential oil and fructooligosaccharides, as alternatives to virginiamycin, on growth performance, digestibility, gut morphology and immune response of male broilers. Animal Feed Science and Technology 175: 57-64.
Farag RS, Daw ZY and Abo-raya SH, 1989. Influence of some spice essential oils on aspergillus parasiticus growth and production of aflatoxins in a synthetic medium. Journal of Food Science 54: 74-76.
Ganser D and piteller G, 1995.Aromatase inhibitors from Urtica dioica roots. Planta Medica 61:138–140.
Garcia V, Catala-gregori LP, Hernandez F, Megias MD and Madrid J, 2007. Effect of formic acid and plant extracts on growth, nutrient digestibility, intestine mucosa morphology, and meat yield of broilers. Journal of Poultry Science 16: 555-562.
Ghaffari M, Shivazad M, Zagheri M, Ghazani F, Omid M and Famil N, 2016. Evaluation of morphological changes of the small intestine of broiler chickens fed with different levels of glutamine in the pre-starter diet during the period after hatching. Journal of Veterinary Research 71: 73-81 (in Persian).
Ghazanfari R, Adib Moradi M and Rahimienitis F, 2015. Effect of different levels of Artemisia plain essential oil on intestinal morphology, microbial population and immune system in broiler chickens. Journal of Veterinary Research 70: 195-202 (in Persian).
Grashorn MA, 2010. Use of phytobiotics in broiler nutrition an alternative to in feed antibiotics. Journal of Animal Feed Science 19: 338-347.
Griggs JP and Jacob JP, 2005. Alternatives to antibiotics for organic poultry production. Journal of Applied poultry Research 17: 750-756.
Gülçin I, Küfrevioğlu KÖİ, Oktay M and Büyükokuroğlu ME, 2004. Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic activities of nettle (Uritica dioica L.). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 90: 205-215.
Hampson DJ, 1986. Alteration in piglet small intestinal structure at weaning. Research of Veterinary Science 40: 38-40.
Hanif MA, Al-Maskari YM, Al-Maskari A, Al-Shukaili A, Al-Maskari AY and Al-Sabahi JN, 2011. Essential oil composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of unexplored Omani basil. Journal of Medical Plant Research 5: 751-757.
Hevener W, Routh PA and Almond GW, 1999. Effects of immune challenge on concentrations of serum insulin- like growth factor-1 and growth performance in pigs. Canadian Veterinary Journal 40: 782-786.
Heydari A, Nobakht A, Safamehr A and Mahdavi S, 2010. Evaluation of the effects of using medicinal plants of Nettle, oregano and thyme on performance, carcass traits and biochemical parameters and blood cells in broiler chickens. Journal of Veterinary Medicine 4: 923-932 (in Persian).
Hong JC, Steiner T, Aufy A and Lein TF, 2012. Effects of supplemental essential oil on growth performance, lipid metabolites and immunity, intestinal characteristics, microbiota and carcass traits in broilers. Livestock Science 144: 253:262.
Jamroz D, Orda J, Kamel C, Williczkiewicz A, Wertelecki T and Skorupin’ska J, 2003. The influence of phytogenic extract on performance, nutrients digestibility, carcass characteristic and gut microbial status in broiler chickens. Journal of Animal Feed Science 12: 583-596.
Jamroz D, Wertelecki T, Houszka M and Kamel C, 2006. Influence of diet type on the inclusion of plant origin active substances on morphological and histochemical characteristics of the stomach and jejunum walls in chicken. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 90: 255-268.
Jang IS, Ko YH, Yang HY, Ha JS, Kim JY, Kang SY, Yoo DH, Nam DS, Kim DH and Lee CY, 2004. Influence of essential oil components on growth performance and the functional activity of the pancreas and small intestine in broiler chickens. Asian-Australia Journal of Animal Science 17: 394-400.
Khosravi A, Baldachi F, Dastar B and Hasani S, 2009. Investigating the possibility of using the extract of the nettle and propionic acid as an alternative to growth promoting antibiotics in broiler feeding. Journal of Animal Science (research and development) 83: 59-66 (in Persian).
Kwiecien M and Mieczan W, 2009. Effect of addition of herbs on body weight and assessment of physical and chemical alterations in the tibia bones of broiler chickens. Journal of Elementary 14: 705-715.
Lambert RJW, Skandamis PN, Coote PJ and Nychas GJE, 2001. A study of the minimum inhibitory concentration and mode of action of oregano essential oil, thymol and carvacrol. Journal of Applied Microbiology 91: 453-462.
Lavinia S, Gabi D, Drinceanu D, Stef D, mot D, Julean C, Ramona T and Corcionivoschi N, 2009. The effect of medicinal plants and plant extracted oils on broiler duodenum morphology and immunological profile. Romanian Biotechnological Letters 14: 4606-4614.
Mahmoudi M, 2009. Production and cultivation of asparagus. Journal of Animal, cultivation and Industry 112: 76-77 (in Persian).
Mane AG, Kulkarni AN, Korake RL and Bhutkar SS, 2012. Effects of supplementation of Ashwagandha (Wthania somnifera) and shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) on growth performance of broilers. Research Journal of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science 3: 94-96.
Mansoub NH and Mohammadnezhady MA, 2011. The effect of using Thyme, Garlic and Nettle on performance, carcass quality and blood parameters. Annals of Biological Research 2 (4): 315-320.
Mansoub NH, 2011. Comparison of effects of using Nettle (Urtica dioica) and probiotic on performance and serum composition of broiler chickens. Global Veterinary 6: 247-250.
Mehdizadeh SM, Lotfollahian H, Zare Shehneh A, Mirhadi SA, Hosseini SA and Alinejhad A, 2010. Effect of different levels of probiotics on morphology, microbial population of digestive system and immune system characteristics of broiler chickens. Journal of Veterinary Medicine 88: 27-33 (in Persian).
Mitsch P, Zitterl-Eglseer K, Kohler B, Gabler C, Losa R and Zimpernik I, 2004. The effect of two different blends of essential oil components on the proliferation of Clostridium perfringens in the intestines of broiler chickens. Poultry Science 83: 669–675.
Motavalizadeh A, 2012. Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oils of chamomile from Neyshabur, Iran. Journal of Medical Plant 6 (5): 820-824.
Mountzouris KC, Paraskevas V, Tsirtsikos P, Palamidi L, Steiner T, Schatzmayr G and Fegeros K, 2011. Assessment of a phytogenic feed additive effect on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility and cecalmicroflora composition. Animal Feed Science and Technology 168: 223-231.
National Research Council, 1994. Nutrient requirements of poultry. 9th Ed, Natl Acad Press, Washington DC.
Petrolli TG, Albino LFT, Rostagno HS, Gomes PC, Tavernari FC and Balbino EM, 2012. Herbal extract in diets for broilers. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science 41 (7): 1683-1690.
Rekhate DH, Ukey S, Leena N and Deshmukh BS, 2010. Effect of dietary supplementation of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) On heamatobiochemical parameters of broilers. Veterinary World 3 (6): 280-281.
Rezaian M, 1998. Histology and Color Atlas of Veterinary Medicine. Tehran University Press, Second Edition, pp: 198-204 (in Persian).
Rezaian M, 2006. Poultry Histology. Tehran University Press, First Edition, pp: 17-23 (in Persian).
Safamehr A, Mirahmadi M and Nobakht A, 2012. Effect of nettle (Urtica dioica) medicinal plant on growth performance, immune responses and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. International Research Journal of Applied Basic Science 3 (4): 721-728.
SAS Institute, 2005. SAS Users guide: Statistics. Version 9.12, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC.
Shams Shargh M, Dastar B, Zerehdaran S, Khomeiri M and Moradi A, 2012. Effects of using plant extracts and a probiotic on performance, intestinal morphology and microflora population in broilers. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 21: 201-208.
Siyrafi R, Shahrooz R and Soltanali Nejad F, 2011. Comparison of the effects of prebiotic, organic acid and antibiotic growth stimulus on histomorphometry of broiler chickens. Journal of Veterinary Medicine 4: 31-37. (in Persian).
Tashfam M, Rahimi SH and Karimi K, 2005. Effect of different levels of probiotics on the morphology of intestinal mucosa of broiler chicks. Journal of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Tehran 3: 205-211 (in Persian).
Tekade SH, Mode SG and Waghmare SP, 2008. Effect of Asparagus racemosus, Sida cordifolia and Levamisole on immunological parameters in experimentally induced immune suppressed broilers. Veterinary World 1: 49-50.
Teshfam M, Nodeh H and hassanzadeh M, 2005. Alteration in the intestinal mucosal structure following oral administration triiodthyronine (T3) in broiler chickens. Journal of Applied Animal Research 27: 105-108.
Thomke S and Elwinger K, 1998. Growth promotants in feeding pigs and poultry. I: Growth and feed efficiency responses to antibiotic growth promotants. Annal Zootech 47: 85- 97.
Turk DE, 1982. Symposium: The avian gastrointestinal tract and digestion. The anatomy of the avian digestive tract as related to feed utilization. Poultry Science 61: 1225-1244.
Uni Z, Geyra A, Ben-Hur H and Sklan D, 2000. Small intestinal development in the young chick: crypt formation and enterocyte proliferation and migration. British Poultry Science 41: 544-551.
Windisch W, Schedle K, Plitzner C and Kroismayr A, 2008. Use of phytogenic products as feed additives for swine and poultry. Journal of Animal Science 86: 140-148.
Yakhkeshi S, Rahimi S and Naseri KG, 2011. The effects of comparison of herbal extracts, antibiotic, probiotic and organic acid on serum lipids, immune response, gut microbial population, intestinal morphology and performance of broilers. Journal of Medical Plant 10 (37): 80-95.
Yamauchi KE, Incharoen T and Yamauchi K, 2010. The relationship between intestinal histology and function as shown by compensatory enlargement of remnant villi after mid gut resection in chickens. The Anatomical Record 293 (12): 2071-2079.
Zamzami Z, Mohammadi M and Roostaei Ali Mehr M, 2014. Effect of nettle (Urtica dioica) leaf powder on performance, carcass traits and immune responses in broilers. Journal of Animal Sciences Research 24 (4): 51-63 (in Persian).