Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Performance enhancing, immunomodulatory, anti-hyperlipidaemic, and antimicrobial properties of bael (Aegle marmelos) leaf powder in broiler chicken

  • Regular Articles
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of bael leaf powder (BLP) on growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry, and caecal microbiology of broiler chickens. Following completely randomised design, a total of 288-day-old CARIBRO-Vishal broiler chickens were randomly divided into six treatment groups consisting of experimental diets formulated as follows — T1 (basal diet), T2 (basal diet + 250 mg bacitracin methylene disalicylate-BMD/kg diet), T3 (basal diet + 5 g BLP/kg diet) T4 (basal diet + 10 g BLP/kg diet), T5 (basal diet + 15 g BLP/kg diet), and T6 (basal diet + 20 g BLP/kg diet). Proximate analysis of green bael leaves revealed 65.6% moisture and on dry matter basis, BLP contained 14.31% protein, 1.89% fat, 16.30% crude fibre, 4.25% calcium, and 2.08% phosphorous. This study revealed no adverse effects of BLP supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken. The BLP supplementation at 20 g/kg diet resulted in higher relative weights of bursa and thymus with better cell mediated (higher foot web index) and humoral immune (higher antibody titre against sheep RBCs) responses in broiler chicken. Lower abdominal fat deposition was observed in broiler chicken fed 20 g BLP/kg diet. Significantly lower serum uric acid, creatinine, AST, and ALT were observed in BLP supplemented chicken which indicates nephro-protective and hepato-protective functions of BLP. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and tissue cholesterol content of broiler chicken decreased progressively with increasing dietary BLP levels. The supplementation of 20 g BLP/kg diet resulted in lower E. coli and Coliform counts, whereas, increasing trend was observed in Lactobacillus count in caecum of broiler chicken. In conclusion, the BLP supplementation at 20 g/kg diet exerted immunomodulatory, anti-hyperlipidaemic, and antibacterial effects in broiler chicken without any adverse effects on the growth performance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Data will be available from the corresponding author upon a reasonable request.

The experimental procedures on the birds were carried out in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. The experimental procedures and animal welfare measures were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar (IAEC approval number: 289/04/ab19/CPCSEA).

References

  • A.O.A.C., 1990. Official Methods of Analysis, 15th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington, D.C. USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arul, V., Miyazaki. and Dhananjayan, R., 2005. Studies on anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic properties of leaves of Aegle marmelos Corr. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 96, 159.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baliga, M.S., Thilakchand, K.R., Rai, M.P., Rao, S. and Venkatesh, P., 2013. Aegle marmelos (L.) correa (bael) and its phytochemicals in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies 12, 187-196.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Begum, J., Mir, N.A., Dev, K. and Khan, I.A., 2018. Dynamics of antibiotic resistance with special reference to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 125, 1228-1237.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bera, I., Tyagi, P.K., Mir, N.A., Tyagi, P.K., Dev, K., Kumar, F., Rokade, J.J., Biswas, A., Mandal, A.B. and Biswas, P., 2019. Soapnut shell powder as immunomodulatory and welfare friendly feed additive in broiler chicken. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 89(10), 1135-1139

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhardwaj, R.L., 2014. Role of bael fruit juice in nutritional security of Sirohi tribals. Benchmark Survey Report on Sirohi Tribals, 11–37.

  • Bhavani, R. and Rajeshkumar, S., 2014. Anti-hyperglycemic activity of alcoholic leaf extract of Aegle marmelos (linn.) on alloxan induced diabetic rats. International Journal of Pharmacology Science Research, 5(3), 56-60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheni, F. and Chu., 1998. Effect of tea on blood glucose, blood lipid and antioxidants activity in old rats. Journal of Tea Science, 18, 74-77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrier, D.E. and Deloach, J.R., 1990. Evaluation of cell-mediated, cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity in young chickens by an interdigital skin test. Poultry Science, 69(3), 403-408.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Devi, K., Sivaraj, A., Kumar, P.V., Ahmed, K.S.Z., Sathiyaraj, K., Kumar, B.S. and David, E., 2010. Hypolipidemic effect of Aegle Marmelos leaf extract in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic male Albino rats. International Journal of PharmTech Research, 2, 259-265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Divya, Mandal, A.B., Biswas, A., Yadav, A.S. and Biswas, A.K., 2014. Effect of dietary moringa oleifera leaves powder on growth performance, blood chemistry, meat quality and gut microflora of broiler chicks. Animal Nutrition Feed Technology, 14(2), 349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doumas, B.T., Bayse, D.D., Carter, R.J., Peters, T. Jr. and Schaffer, R., 1981. A candidate reference method for determination of total protein in serum. I. Development and validation. Clinical Chemistry, 27(10), 1642-1650.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Epand, R.F, Savage, P.B. and Epand, R.M., 2007. Bacterial lipid composition and the antimicrobial efficacy of cationic steroid compounds (Ceragenins). Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Biomembranes, 1768(10), 2500-2509.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Flegg, H.M., 1973. An investigation of the determination of serum cholesterol by an enzymic method. Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, 10, 79-84.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fossati, P. and Lorenzo, P., 1982. Serum triglycerides determined calorimetrically with an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide. Clinical Chemistry, 28(10), 2077-2080.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fossati, P. and Prencipe, L., 1980. Use of 3,5-dichloro-2-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid/4-aminophenazone chromogenic system in direct enzymic assay of uric acid in serum and urine. Clinical Chemistry, 26(2), 227-231.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Govinda, H.V. and Asdaq, S.M.B., 2011. immunomodulatory potential of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos in animals. Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 73(1), 235-240.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, S.L., Palod, J. and Singh, S.K., 2016. Serum-biochemical profile and immunomodulatory effect of Aegle marmelos, Chelidoniummajus, and Boerhaaviadiffusa homeopathic mother tincture supplementation in guinea fowl. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 50(4), 493-96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemandez, N.E., Tereschuk, M.L. and Abdala, L.R., 2000. Antimicrobial activity of flavonoids in medicinal plants from Tafi del Valle (Tucuma ́n, Argentina). Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 73(1-2), 317-322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamalakkannan, N. and Prince, P.S.M., 2003. Effect of Aegle marmelos Correa. (Bael) fruit extract on tissue antioxidants in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 41, 1285-1288.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, A., Ali, N.H., Santercole, V., Paglietti, B., Rubino S Kazmi, S.U. and Farooqui, A., 2016. Camellia sinensis mediated enhancement of humoral immunity to particulate and non-particulate Antigens. Phototherapy Research, 30, 41-48.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, T.H. and Sultana, S., 2009. Antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of Aegle marmelos Correa. against CCl4-induced oxidative stress and early tumor events. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, 24, 320-327.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kothari, S., Minda, M. and Tonpay, S.D., 2010. Anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos leaves in mice. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 54, 318-328.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mahanta, J.D., Borgohain, B., Sarma, M., Sapcota, D. and Hussain, J., 2017. Effect of dietary supplementation of herbal growth promoter on performance of commercial broiler chicken. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 51, 1097-1100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahfuz, S., Song, H., Wei, J., Chen, M., Zhen, D., Nahar, Z. and Liu, Z., 2018. Organic egg production, egg quality, calcium utilization, and digestibility in laying hens fed with mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) stem waste. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 20, 717-724.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamtha,B., Kavitha, K., Srinivasan, K.K. and Shivananda, P.G., 2004. An in vitro study of the effect of Centella asiatica [Indian pen- nywort] on enteric pathogens. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 36(1), 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marjorie, C., 1999. Plant products as antimicrobial agents. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 12(4), 564-582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazumder, R., Bhattacharya, S., Mazumder, A., Pattnaik, A.K., Tiwary,

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Movahhedkhah, S., Rasouli, B., Seidavi, A., Mazzei, D., Laudadio, V. and Tufarelli, V., 2019. Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) extract as natural feed additive in broilers: Effects on growth, plasma constituents, immune response, and ileal microflora. Animals, 9, 87.

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mujeeb, F., Bajpai, P. and Pathak, N., 2014. Phytochemical evaluation, antimicrobial activity, and determination of bioactive components from leaves of Aegle marmelos. BioMed Research International, 497606. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/497606

  • Mukherjee, K., Biswas, R., Chaudhary, S.K. and Mukherjee, P.K., 2015. Botanicals as medicinal food and their effect against obesity. In: Mukherjee K, editor. Evidence based validation of herbal medicine. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 373–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murlidharan, L., 2014. Beneficial effects of Aegle marmelos leaves on blood glucose levels and body weight changes in alloxan- induced diabetic rats. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 4, 46-49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narender, T., Shweta, S., Tiwari, P., Papi, R.K., Khaliq, T., Prathipati, P., Puri, A., Srivastava, A., Chander, R., Agarwal, S.C. and Raj, K., 2007. Antihyperglycemic and anti-dyslipidemic agent from Aegle marmelos. Bioorganic Medicine Chemical Letter, 17(6), 1808-18011.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nigam, V. and Nambiar, V.S., 2014. Evaluation of the physico-chemical characteristics, minerals and heavy metals in wild and cultivated variety of Aegle marmelos (L) Correa leaves. Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine, 4(6), 1634-1648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oke, D.B. and Oke, M.O., 2007. Effects of feeding graded levels of sawdust obtained from Daniellia ogea tree on the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. Research Journal of Poultry Sciences, 1(1), 12-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandey, S., (2010). Treatment of diabetes and hyperlipidemia with extracts of Eugenia jambolana seed and Aegle marmelos leaf extracts in alloxan induced diabetic rats. International Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Science, 6(2), 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patel, P, Asdaq, S.M.B., 2010. Immunomodulatory activity of methanolic fruit extract of Aegle marmelos in experimental animals. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 18, 161-165.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pratheepa, V., Ramesh, S. and Sukumaran, N., 2010. Immunomodulatory effect of Aegle marmelos leaf extract on freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio infected by bacterial pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila. Pharmacology Biology, 48(11), 1224-1239.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajadurai, M., Padmanabhan, M. and Prince, P.S.M., 2005. Effect of Aegle marmelos leaf extract and α-tocopherol on lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. Cardiology, 1, 40-45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reitman, S. and Frankel, S., 1957. A colorimetric method for the determination of serum glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminases. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 28(1), 56-63.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sale, F.O., Marchesini, S., Fishman, P.H. and Berra, B.A., 1984. Sensitive enzymatic assay for determination of cholesterol in lipid extracts. Analytical Biochemistry, 142, 347-350.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sankari, M., Chitra, V., Silambujanaki, P. Raju, D., 2010. Anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of Aegle marmelos (leaves) in mice. International Journal of PharmTech Research, 2, 640–643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar, T., Salauddin, M. and Chakraborty, R., 2020. In-depth pharmacological and nutritional properties of bael (Aegle marmelos): A critical review. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2 (2020) 100081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2020.100081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, P.C., Bhatia, V., Bansal, N. and Sharma, A., 2007. A review on Bael Tree. Natural Product Radiance, 6(2), 171-178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, R.P., Banerjee, S. and Rao, A.R., 2000. Effect of Aegle marmelos on biotransformation enzyme systems and protection against free-radical-mediated damage in mice. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 52, 991-1000.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, U., Kocher, A. and Boora, R., 2012. Proximate composition, available carbohydrates, dietary fibres and anti-Nutritional factors in Bael (Aegle marmelos L.) leaf, pulp and seed powder. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2(4),1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Supriya, D., Ashish, S., Ankit, S., Nirmala, G. and Agrawal, R.C., 2012. Evaluation of in vitro antibacterial potential of ripe fruits of Aegle marmelos. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4(3), 179-181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toro, G. and Ackermann, P.G. 1975. Practical clinical chemistry. Little Brown and Co., Boston, Mass. p. 154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Der Zijpp, A.J., 1983. The effect of genetic origin, source of antigen, and dose of antigen on the immune response of cockerels. Poultry Science, 62(2), 205-211.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vijaya, C., Ramanathan, M. and Suresh, B., 2009. Lipid lowering activity of ethanolic extract of leaves of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) in hyperlipidaemic models of Wistar albino rats. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 47, 182-8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav, G.B., Kadam, A.S., Pachpande, A.M., Lambate, S.B., Lonkar, V.D., Maini, S. and Ravikanth, K., 2010. Post hatch histo-morphological studies of small intestinal development in chicks fed with herbal early chick nutritional supplement. International Journal of Poultry Science, 9(9), 851-855.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zablotowicz, R.M., Hoagland, R.E. and Wagner, S.C., 1996. Effect of saponins on the growth and activity of rhizosphere bacteria. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 405, 83-95.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India

    Divya Sharma, Nasir Akbar Mir, Avishek Biswas & Chandra Deo

Authors
  1. Divya Sharma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nasir Akbar Mir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Avishek Biswas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chandra Deo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

DS, AB: conceptualization and design of study; NAM, CD, DS: conducted the experiment and data collection; NAM, AB: data analysis; DS, CD: wrote the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the manuscript for submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Divya Sharma.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sharma, D., Mir, N.A., Biswas, A. et al. Performance enhancing, immunomodulatory, anti-hyperlipidaemic, and antimicrobial properties of bael (Aegle marmelos) leaf powder in broiler chicken. Trop Anim Health Prod 54, 56 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03054-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03054-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation