Effect of supplementation of phyllanthus niruri extracts on immune status in commercial broilers

There was significant difference among the groups in HI titre value against Ranikhet LaSota on day 42, where the group supplemented with P. niruri crude extract recorded highest HI titre value followed by the group supplemented with standardized extract (p<0.01). Throughout the study period the HI titre values were found to be relatively more in the treated groups than the control group. Significant difference was observed among the groups in the HA titre values against SRBC only on day 35 (p<0.05) where P. niruri crude extract supplemented group recorded highest followed by P. niruri std. extract supplemented group. Significant (p<0.01) differences were noticed in serum total protein, albumin and globulin in 4th and 6th weeks and albumin:globulin ratio in 4th week. P. niruri std. extract supplemented group performed better than the P. niruri crude extract supplemented group. No significant differences were observed in the total WBC and differential cell counts throughout the study period among different treatment groups. The present work was carried out to study the influence of supplementation of P. niruri in crude and standardized extract forms on the immune potential in commercial broiler chicken. The results revealed that the supplementation of P. niruri crude and std. extracts at 1% and 0.1% levels improved the humoral immunity by increasing antibody titres against specific antigen Ranikhet Lasota in broilers. Further research is recommended to confirm the positive influence of P. niruri on immune potential and to optimize inclusion levels and period of inclusion in broiler diets and to determine their possible physiological interfering effects and cost effectiveness. The Hepatostimulatory effect of Phyllanthus and the resultant increase in protein synthesis is once again proved.