Immunomodulatory effect of ficus religiosa and ziziphus mauritiana leaf extracts in broiler birds

Both F. religiosa and Z. mauritiana are popular as a good source of traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders. In the present study, F. religiosa leaf extract has shown edema index, EI (%) of 35.30±5.74, 49.71±5.32 and 54.79±4.48 in the dose regimen of 1mg/day, 5 mg/day, 10 mg/day respectively in broiler birds. On the other hand, Z. mauritiana leaf extract has shown EI (%) of 46.04±2.45, 57.63±6.39 and 64.15±2.56 in the dose regimen of 1 mg/day, 5 mg/day, 10 mg/day respectively. The same for vehicle (15% ethanol) and dexamethasone was 38.29±1.40 and 21.45±5.09 respectively. Therefore, it has been observed that, higher doses of both extracts have increased paw edema in comparison to control group treated with vehicle. Dexamethasone inhibited delayed type hypersensitivity edema as expected. This demonstrates immunostimulatory effect of both plant extracts on cellular immune response.