author(s)
Zulfqar ul Haq and Azmat Alam Khan

abstract
Antibiotic resistant microbes are a global public health concern in human or animals out of which gram negative bacteria pose greater threat due to presence of mobile genes present on plasmid. Moreover currently India does not have any prohibitory regulations regarding use of antimicrobials in livestock feed as growth promoters. These resistant microbes developed in animals find their way in humans through direct or indirect contact with animal or environment. Though European Union has phased out the antibiotic growth promoters in animal feed from 2006 and soon in due future we will be expecting it in India as well. This has paved a wave to find new alternatives sources which can replace antibiotics as growth promoters but without compromising the benefits which we get in terms of growth. Among many alternatives like probiotics, acidifiers’ etc prebiotics have emerged as one of the most promising source with consistent results. In the review detailed description of prebiotic including its definition, methods of extraction and its effect in vivo are discussed in detail.