Effect of Emblica officinalis supplementation on expression level of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in broilers

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing different levels of amla fruit powder on differential gene expression level of toll like receptors (TLRs) in broilers. Three hundred, one-day-old broiler chicks were used for the study. The chicks were randomly distributed into 30 subgroups i.e., 6 dietary treatments with five replicates per treatment and each replicate has 10 birds. The first group was kept as a control (T₁) and given basal diet without antibiotic while second (T₂) basal diet with antibiotics, third (T₃), fourth (T₄), fifth (T₅) and sixth (T₆) groups were dietary supplemented with amla fruit powder @0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%, respectively. At the end of feeding trial (6^th week), blood samples were collected from one broiler per replicate, making five samples per treatment and thus a total of 30 samples were analysed. Total RNA was isolated from blood samples by using TRIZOL method; cDNA was prepared, and analysis of temporal differential gene expression profile was carried out using Step I plus real-time PCR system. The differential expression level of TLRs that includes TLR 2, TLR 4 and TLR 7 gene transcripts in birds was studied by using relative quantification method and level of target mRNA was determined by comparative C_T method (ΔΔC_T method). Significantly highest level of increase in mRNA expression of TLR 2 was observed in treatment group 0.75% amla-supplemented group (T₅) and significant down regulation of TLR 4 was observed in all amla supplemented group.

• Inclusion of amla powder in the diet has desirable effects on the immunological parameters.

• Dietary amla powder supplementation has a significant effect on the expression of the toll-like receptor.