Abstract: Bergenia ligulate is an important ornamental medicinal plant of the Himalayan region known for its extensive biological activities, low maintenance and wide range of pharmaceutical applications. In the present study aqueous extract of rhizomes of
Bergenia ligulata (BLAE) was evaluated for its
in vitro immunomodulatory and antioxidant activity through lymphocytes proliferation assay (LPA), lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) assays in chicken lymphocytes. The extraction yield of the rhizome of
Bergenia ligulata in water was about 8.90%. BLAE showed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Maximum non-cytotoxic dose (MNCD) of BLAE for lymphocyte culture was determined to be 200 µg/mL. LPA showed that BLAE enhanced lymphocyte proliferation of B cells and T cells. Treatment with BLAE significantly increased the level of GSH, SOD, CAT and decreased the level of LPO in chicken lymphocytes, thus indicating the antioxidant potential of BLAE. The efficiency of poultry production is rising due to increased global consumption of chicken over red meat, leading to industry intensification, and the focus is shifting from antibiotic growth promoters to non-antibiotic alternatives like phytogenics to combat antibiotic resistance. The study reveals significant immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties of BLAE, thus suggesting that it could be a potential feed additive in poultry production. However, further
in vivo research is required to evaluate its efficacy and safety for application in commercial poultry farming.
