Immunomodulatory And Protective Effects Of Oryza Sativa Derived Arabinoxylans (Axs)

Abstract

Immunomodulatory effects of rice bran (Oryza sativa)-derived arabinoxylans (AXs) were evaluated in chickens. Broiler chicks were randomly allocated into five equal groups of 25 chicks each. The humoral immune response was detected using sheep RBCs. Cellular immunity was assessed using phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P), concanavalin-A (Con-A), carbon clearance, and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) assays. Following a 14-day course of AXs, all experimental and control groups were exposed to sporulated oocysts of mixed Eimeria species, and the anticoccidial potential was assessed based on the mortality rate, lesion score, oocysts per gram of stool (OPG), and weight of lymphoid organs on different days post infection. We observed that AXs-treated groups showed higher immunomodulatory effects. However, the group treated with AXs @ 300 mg/Kg of body weight showed higher antibodies, a higher cellular response to PHA-P and CON-A, and higher carbon clearance (P<0.05), while the group B chickens showed maximum skin thickness before and after 24 to 48 hours of DNCB dosage. This study could be useful in identifying an immunomodulatory  agent for the control of chicken coccidiosis.