title: Evaluation of a topical herbal drug for its in-vivo immunomodulatory effect on cytokines production and antibacterial activity in bovine subclinical mastitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antibiotics have been in use in the treatment of bovine mastitis since decades; however, their use is associated with cost issues and human health concern. Use of herbal drugs does not generally carry these disadvantages. Many plants/herbs have been evaluated in the treatment of bovine mastitis with additional property of immunomodulation in affected mammary gland.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a topical herbal drug in two breeds of cattle for its in-vivo immunomodulatory effect on cytokines production and antibacterial activity in bovine subclinical mastitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The response to treatment was evaluated by enumerating somatic cell count (SCC), determining total bacterial load, and studying the expression of different cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, IL-12, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pre- and post-treatment SCC in mastitic quarters statistically did not differ significantly, however, total bacterial load declined significantly from day 0 onwards in both the breeds. Highly significant differences (P < 0.01) were observed in all the cytokines on day 0, 5, and 21 postlast treatment in both the breeds. The expression level of all the cytokines showed a significant increase on day 5, while a decrease was noticed on day 21 in both the breeds of cattle. The comparison of cytokine expression profiles between crossbred and Gir cattle revealed a significant difference in expression of IL-6 and TNF-α. However, other cytokines exhibited a similar pattern of expression in both breeds, which was non-significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The topical herbal drug exhibited antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities in subclinical mastitis and thus the work supports its use as alternative herbal therapy against subclinical udder infection in bovines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot, India.
authors.forename: Vaibhav D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, India.
authors.forename: Tejas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, India.
authors.forename: Dev S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Nauriyal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Ashok and Rita Patel Institute of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Allied Sciences, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Anju P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kunjadia
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, India.
authors.forename: Chaitanya G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Joshi
keywords: Herbal drug; immunomodulation; subclinical mastitis