Influence of some medicinal plants on the humoral immunity of broiler chickens

Magdalena Oblakova, Lilyan Sotirov, Tsvetoslav Koynarski, Pavlina Hristakieva, Nadya Mincheva, Mitko Lalev and Ivelina Ivanova

Abstract: Infectious diseases cause devastating economic losses in the poultry industry. The aim of the current study was to evaluate blood serum concentrations of lysozyme, alfa interferon, gamma interferon, immunoglobulin G, and immunoglobulin M, the activity of the alternative pathway of complement activation (APCA), and betalysin activity in chicken broilers, whose rations were supplemented with either 2% dry herbs or 0.02% herbal essential oils. A total of 390, one-day-old of age male broilers poults were randomly allocated to 13 groups, any group 30 chickens (3 replicates – 10 birds per treatment) until 39 days old, namely control (C) and 12 experimentals. The experimental groups received a basal diet plus 2% dry herbs or 0.02% essential oils (EO) supplements obtained from the herbs (Matricaria chamomilla; Rosmarinus officinalis; Lavandula angustifolia; Origanum vulgare; Thymus vulgaris; Hypericum perforatum). In the groups treated with dry herbs highest lysozyme concentrations were determined in chamomile, АPCA and betalysin in lavender, alpha interferon in thyme, interferon gamma in control group, immunoglobulin IgG in oregano, and immunoglobulin IgM in chamomile. In groups treated with essential oils (EO), lysozyme concentration was the highest in the group treated with rosemary,APCA in lavender, betalysin in thyme, alpha interferon in thyme, immunoglobulin IgG in St. John’s wort, and immunoglobulin IgM in the control group. It could be concluded that studied herbs possess an important immunomodulating potential in chickens, which could improve their health.

Keywords: chickens; humoral immunity; medicinal plants

Date published: 2022-12-09