Efficacy of Moringa oleifera Lam. extracts and Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic during starter period on growth performances of male broiler chicken

<strong>Background</strong>: Probiotics and medicinal plants have been used to support human and livestock health. This research aimed to evaluate the potential of moringa (<em>Moringa oleifera </em>Lam.) leaf extract on the growth of <em>Pediococcus pentosaceus,</em> <em>L. acidophilus </em>and<em> L. plantarum</em> probiotic in vitro and to prove the potential of probiotics and <em>M.oleifera</em> extract as a feed additive as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) to improve nutrient intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and feed efficiency in broiler chicken starter phase. <strong>Methods:</strong> This study consisted of three sub studies: (1) screening test for phytochemical compounds in Moringa leaf extract, (2) evaluation of several doses of moringa extract (0% (P0), 0.1% (P1), 0.2% (P2), 0.3% (P3) on P. <em>pentosaceus</em> viable cell count using total plate count methods. At the end of treatment, each colony was calculated using the method<em> Total Plate Count</em> (3) evaluation of probiotics and <em>M.oleifera</em> by in vivo to prove growth performance on starter phase of broiler chicken. All the results were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) then followed by the Duncan test. <strong>Results:</strong> The results showed (1) the phytochemical screening test <em>M.oleifera</em> extract have compounds in the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, triterpenoids and alkaloids; (2) <em>M.oleifera</em> extract at a doses of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% can increase the growth of bacteria <em>P. pentosaceus,</em> <em>L. acidophilus </em>and<em> L. plantarum </em> (p&lt;0.05); (3) The use of probiotics, <em>M.oleifera</em> extract and a combination of probiotics + <em>M.oleifera</em> extract showed that body weight, body weight gain, FCR and feed efficiency signifcantly differ (p &lt;0.05) between the treatments, but there was no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05) between the treatments (p &gt; 0.05) on nutrient intake (dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fiber and organic matter) on broiler chicken starter phase. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> The conclusion of this study is that the use of <em>M.oleifera</em> extract at doses of 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% increased the growth of <em>P. pentosaceus, L. acidophilus</em> and <em>L. plantarum</em> bacteria by in vitro and the use of probiotics, <em>M.oleifera</em> extract and combination of probiotics + <em>M.oleifera</em> extract by in vivo can improve the growth performance on starter phase of broilers chicken.