Modulatory effects of several herbal extracts on avian peripheral blood cell immune responses

Abstract

Standardized ethanol extracts of Allium sativum (garlic), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Plantago major (plantain) and Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) were assessed for their effects on cellular immunity in laying hens. Birds (n = 25) had blood samples taken and both specific and non-specific immune cell responsiveness were evaluated by a leukocyte proliferation assay, carbon clearance test and SRBC phagocytosis in monocyte-derived macrophage cultures. Licorice and sea buckthorn (50 microg/mL) clearly enhanced the macrophage membrane function (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Dual effects on circulating phagocytes were revealed for plantain and sea buckthorn, while garlic at 200 microg/mL impaired the phagocytic capacity of blood cells. None of the tested extracts showed mitogenic properties, but high concentrations of sea buckthorn (400 microg/mL) inhibited leukocyte proliferation. Small concentrations (20 microg/mL) of licorice proved the co-mitogenic potential for both T and B avian lymphocytes (p < 0.05). Certain extracts definitely enhanced the fowl innate and/or specific cell immunity and may therefore improve host resistance in poultry. Considering the chicken as an important non-mammalian model that also serves as an available laboratory approach for some human diseases, herbs exerting immunomodulatory properties may find relevant clinical applications.

Antioxidant enzyme activities, plasma hormone levels and serum metabolites of finishing broiler chickens reared under high ambient temperature and fed lemon and orange peel extracts and Curcuma xanthorrhiza essential oil

“…The positive effect of feeding plant extracts on immune responses is in agreement with literature. Ethanol extracts of Allium sativum (garlic), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Plantago major (plantain) and Hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn), which are containing PC, had some beneficial effects on cellular immunity in laying hens (Dorhoi et al., ). The phagocytic activity of peripheral blood leucocytes in chickens orally administered sugar cane extracts or a polyphenol‐rich fraction of the sugar cane extract (500 mg/kg) for three consecutive days increased significantly, when compared with that of saline‐administered control chickens (Hikosaka et al., ).…”

Effect of a Dietary Herbal Mixture Supplement on the Growth Performance, Egg Production and Health Status in Chickens

“…Their positive effect is demonstrated mainly on growth and egg productive performance, quality egg traits, differencial blood count and immunity response (Dorhoi et al, 2006;Canogullari et al, 2009Canogullari et al, , 2010Ghasemi et al, 2010;Mohebbifar and Torki, 2010;Navid et al 2014). There are many evidence to suggest that they may have beneficial influence on useful gut microflora altogether with inhibitory effects on pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacteria -clostridia, colibacteria, salmonellae etc.…”

Effect of Sea Buckthorn Leaves on Inosine Monophosphate and Adenylosuccinatelyase Gene Expression in Broilers during Heat Stress

“…Recently studies have shown that sea buckthorn has antioxidant (Geetha et al, 2002a; Geetha et al, 2002b; Chawla et al, 2007; Püssa et al, 2007; Geetha et al, 2009), anticancer (Olsson et al, 2004; Ma et al, 2007; Boivin et al, 2007), antiinfective (Larmo et al, 2008) and exerts beneficial effects on liver fibrosis (Gao et al, 2003) and immune function (Dorhoi et al, 2006). Sea buckthorn decreases the damage of enzyme activity or hormonal metabolic organism status caused by immobilization or cold-hypoxia-restraint (Krylova et al, 2000; Saggu and Kumar, 2007), however, its effects on heat stress is unclear.…”