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Dietary supplementation with additives of herbal origin can also help to attenuate heat stress (Leeson
and Summers, 2001). Plant polyphenols like anthocyanins are phyto-pigments that have a positive
effects on the health of poultry birds, as anthocyanins may function as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,
immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, neuroprotective and anticancer biochemical agents;
therefore, the dietary addition of anthocyanins can produce several health benefits in heat-stressed
birds (Hu et al., 2019). To mitigate heat stress, the use of plant derivatives, such as phytochemicals,
in poultry diets is gaining popularity due to their potential antioxidant activities. Lycopene is a powerful
antioxidant that can be metabolized by animals and it improves cell growth and immune response and
mediates gene transcription (Palozza et al., 2012). Previous research has revealed that lycopene is
one of the powerful natural anti-stressor and antioxidants that can alleviate adverse impacts of heat
stress (Sahin et al., 2016). Supplementation of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) in the diet of heat
stressed birds have shown anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-booster effect, improving
performance and improved meat and egg quality parameters (Arain et al., 2018). Another
phytomolecule that offers promising results on heat stress alleviation is L-theanine which offers
unique health benefits like increasing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant,
antidepressant and stress/fatigue-relieving effects (Tian et al., 2013).