Effect of Feeding of Tinospora cordifolia on Immune Response in Cattle

Thirty two apparently healthy local non descript cows were experimentally divided into two groups viz. treatment and control group having 16 animals each. The animals under treatment group were fed dried stem powder of Tinospora cordifolia (100 mg/kg BW) by mixing it in concentrate mixture for a period of 5 days. The control group animals were fed equal amount of the basal concentrate mixture without T. cordifolia supplementation. Blood and serum samples collected on day 0, 15, 30 and 45 day after feeding of T. cordifolia were subjected for concentration and purification of IgG, phagocytic activity by neutrophils, T cell count and haemolytic complement activity to assess the level of immune response in animals. Significant increase (P<0.05) of total serum immunoglobulin and mean phagocytic index was recorded in treatment group as compared to control group; however complement activity and T cell count did not vary significantly (P>0.05) between treatment and control group. In conclusion, it can be stated that T. cordifolia feeding had significant immunomodulatory effect in cows.