Immunomodulatory effect of Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis) in broiler chickens

Abstract

A study was conducted to identify the immunomodulatory effect of Stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica ) and Aloe vera ( Al oe barbadensis ) in broiler chicken. A total of 240 birds were divided into 4 treatment groups with 4 replications in each group, each replication containing 15 birds. Treatments were comprised of no Nettle and Aloe vera (T 0 ); Nettle 5% (T 1 ), Aloe vera @5 ml/lit drinking water (T 2 ) and Nettle 5% and Aloe vera @5 ml/lit drinking water (T 3 ). The study was conducted under a randomized design. The immunomodulating effect was evaluated by measuring antibody titer against NDV vaccine; and by estimating the albumin, globulin and total protein upto 40 days of age. The effect on liver was estimated by measuring liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The hypoglycemic effect was estimated by measuring glucose level in the serum, and morphological changes in the spleen and bursa were estimated by measuring the ratio score of the respective organs to the body weight. Throughout the experiment, the value for HI titer, albumin, globulin, total protein, spleen weight ratio score, bursa weight ratio score, liver function test and blood glucose of all treatment group were non significant ( p > 0.05) except for albumin on 10th day, globulin on 0th day, total protein on 0th day and ratio score of spleen were found to be significant ( p ≤ 0.05) at 30 days in all treatment compared to control group. Histopathology of spleen and bursa appeared normal in all treatment and control groups. Result thus suggests that nettle and Aloe vera have non-significant immunomodulatory effects.

Enhancing the Growth Rate, Biochemical Blood Indices, and Antioxidative Capacity of Broilers by Including Aloe vera Gel in Drinking Water

“…The results also showed that the liver function, as shown by the activities of ALT and AST enzymes, did not deteriorate by including Aloe vera gel in drinking water. Concurrent with the present study, Sharma and Singh ( 13 ) stated that broilers treated with Aloe vera had no ALT changes as an indicator of liver function. Based on the obtained results, birds treated with Aloe vera gel in drinking water did not suffer from stressors that can impair the kidney and liver functions.…”

“…The present study results presented enhanced blood total protein and albumin levels in birds treated with Aloe vera gel in drinking water. The blood total protein and albumin had higher values in birds treated with 1.5% Aloe vera gel than the control, which contradict Singh and Koley ( 27 ) and Sharma and Singh ( 13 ), who stated no significant differences among the birds fed dietary Aloe vera . The contradicting results are probably attributed to the differences in the addition of Aloe vera wherein it was supplied in drinking water in the present study while Singh and Koley ( 27 ) and Sharma and Singh ( 13 ) included Aloe vera as dietary additives.…”

“…Accordingly, the potential impact of Aloe vera gel on the immune system is attributed to the enhanced local intestinal immunity ( 12 ). Further, Aloe vera gel has abundant amounts of polyphenols and natural antioxidants that scavenge the overproduction of free radicals that induce lipid peroxidation and immune cells' damage ( 13 ). Additionally, the application of Aloe vera gel as feed additives enhanced the immunity of broilers and was suggested as a replacer for antibiotics ( 14 , 15 ).…”

Effects of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) powder on laying performance, egg quality, and serum biochemical parameters of Japanese quails

“…Thus, research efforts continued on a number of medicinal herbs to evaluate their potential alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in poultry industry (e.g., Mehri et al., 2015, Kheiri et al., 2018, Yan et al., 2011, Mousavi et al., 2017). One of such medicinal herbs is a stinging nettle ( Urtica diocia ; Sharma et al., 2018), which to the knowledge of the authors, was evaluated in limited studies as phytogenic feed additive in poultry diets.…”

Efficacy of stinging nettle extract in combination with ε‐polylysine on the quality, safety, and shelf life of rainbow trout fillets

“…Stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica L.) as herbal medicine offers some properties including purgative, homeostatic, expectorant, vermifuge, and diuretic, anticancer, antirheumatism, antieczema, antihemorrhoids, antihyperthyroidism, and antibronchitis (Sharma et al., 2018). Martinez et al.…”