Investigation of the immune effects of Scutellaria baicalensis on blood leukocytes and selected organs of the chicken’s lymphatic system

Abstract

BackgroundThe health of chickens and the welfare of poultry industry are central to the efforts of addressing global food security. Therefore, it is essential to study chicken immunology to maintain and improve its health and to find novel and sustainable solutions. This paper presents a study on investigation of the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis root (SBR) on the immune response of broiler chicken, especially on lymphocytes and heterophils reactivity, regarding their contribution to the development of immunity of the chickens.MethodsThe 121-day-old Hubbard Hi-Y male broiler hybrids were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, three SBR supplemented groups (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of SBR) and one control group. Each treatment was replicated five times with six birds per replicate pen in a battery brooder. Blood was collected after 3rd and 6th wk of the experiment, and hemoglobin and hematocrit values were determined, as well as total leukocyte count and differential count were performed. Nitroblue tetrazolium test and phagocytosis assay as nonspecific immune parameters and humoral immune responses to the antigenic challenge by sheep red blood cells were performed. Moreover, the ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes to form radial segmentation (RS) of their nuclei was analyzed. Body weight and relative weight of spleen, liver, and bursa of Fabricius were recorded.ResultsResults showed that mean heterophile/lymphocyte ratio increased in the SBR groups compared to the control group and the blood of the chickens showed lymphocytic depletion. The results also demonstrated that the relative weight of bursa of Fabricius and spleen in groups fed with SBR significantly decreased compared to the control group. This study also showed that the addition of SBR significantly inhibited the formation of RS of nuclei compared to some cytotoxic substances.ConclusionWe found that SBR supplementation should be carefully evaluated when given to poultry. The excess intake of SBR supplementation may cause immunologic inhibition and may negatively affect the development of immune organs. SBR has inhibited the formation of radial segmentation nuclei showing antimetastatic properties and also the phagocytosis of chicken heterophils.

Dietary Supplementation of Baicalein Affects Gene Expression in Broiler Adipose Tissue During the First Week Post-hatch

“…In this study, we first determined the effect of dietary baicalein supplementation on growth performance and organ weights of broilers during the first week post-hatch. The decrease in body weight and average daily weight gain in response to the middle and high levels of baicalein supplementation was consistent with the observation that 0.5% supplementation of S. baicalensis root, which contains 19.3 ± 2.3 mg of baicalein and 214.5 ± 13.3 mg total flavonoids per gram of dry matter, reduced the body weight of 42-day old Hubbard Hi-Y chickens (Króliczewska et al, 2017). In contrast, supplementation of 1.0 and 1.5% of S. baicalensis root increased body weight and body weight gain of these birds (Króliczewska et al, 2017), which was similar to what was observed in 42-day old Arbor Acres chickens that were fed diets containing 100 and 200 mg/kg baicalein (Zhou et al, 2019).…”

“…In the present study, baicalein supplementation was associated with decreased average daily food intake, whereas it was increased in 42-day Hi-Y chickens (Króliczewska et al, 2017) and unchanged in 42-day Arbor Acres broilers (Zhou et al, 2019). Weekly food intake was not affected over the course of 8 weeks of feeding a baicalein-supplemented high-fat diet (500 mg/kg) to middle-aged mice (Fu et al, 2014).…”

The Use of Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Its Extracts for Sustainable Animal Production

“…Ishfaq et al [ 111 ] also showed that baicalin treatment could effectively prevent Mycoplasma gallinarum -induced inflammation, apoptosis, and energy metabolism dysfunction, providing a basis for new therapeutic targets to control M. gallinarum infection. However, Króliczewska et al [ 112 ] found that excessive supplementation of S. baicalensis roots (5–15 g/kg diet) may cause immunosuppression and may have a negative impact on the development of immune organs. S. baicalensis roots inhibited the formation of radially segmented nuclei, showing anti-metastatic properties and phagocytosis of chicken heterophils.…”

Investigation of Scutellaria radix on phenoloxidase and prophenoloxidase of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, via reverse-gavage feeding

“…It is clear that herbal medicine is the most ancientest approach worldwide application to treat diseases (Disch et al, 2017). The S. radix is extensively applied as a medicinal plant for remedy of diverse diseases and food supplement (Ohtsutki et al, 2009, Zhou et al, 2016, and Króliczewska et al, 2017. S. radix contains high concentrations of flavones and flavone glycosides (baicalein (Yue et al, 2012), wogonin (Huang et al, 2003) and their glycosides), which are also the main active compounds.…”

“…S. radix contains high concentrations of flavones and flavone glycosides (baicalein (Yue et al, 2012), wogonin (Huang et al, 2003) and their glycosides), which are also the main active compounds. Flavones and flavone glycosides in S. radix are used effectively for improving immunity (Króliczewska et al, 2017, andCho et al, 2013), antiinflammatory (Yoon et al, 2009), antiviral (Zhong et alI., 2013), anticancer (Sato et al, 2013), antibacterial (Kim and Nam, 2017) and other biological activities (Jung et al, 2012).…”