Evaluation of herb extracts and germanium oxide as immunological adjuvants in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Evaluación de extractos de hierbas y el óxido de germanio como adyuvantes inmunológicos en codornices (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Objective. The aim of present investigation was to assess the immunostimulatory activity of herb extracts from Allium sativum, Aloe arborescens and germanium oxide. Materials and methods. Quails were immunized three times orally with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in combination with the crude plant extracts and the inorganic substance which was indicated above. BSA-specific IgA antibodies in saliva and IgY antibodies in egg yolk were tested by ELISA. Results. It was discovered that the birds treated with BSA in combination with either Allium sativum or Aloe arborescens extracts or germanium oxide had higher titers of BSA-specific IgA antibodies in the saliva at the 42 day of monitoring, while the quails administered with BSA and Allium sativum or Aloe arborescens extracts or germanium oxide demonstrated higher levels of BSA-specific IgY antibodies in the egg yolk at the end of observation. Furthermore, the birds immunised with BSA alone had significantly lower immune responses to BSA than quails immunised with BSA supplemented with the herb extracts and germanium oxide. Conclusions. These data suggest that medicinal plant extracts and germanium oxide can be applied as oral adjuvants or as immunomodulators for quails.

1. Bižanov G. Immunomodulation immunity in vivo and in vitro by medicinal herbs. Germany: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing; 2017.
3. Ragupathi G, Yeng KC, Leung PC, Lee M, Lau CB, Vickers A, Hood C, Deng G, Cheung NK, Cassileth B, Livingston P. Evaluation of widely consumed botanicals as immunological adjuvants. Vaccine. 2008; 26(37):4860-4865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.06.098
5. Singh M, O'Hagan T. Resent advances in vaccine adjuvants. Pharmaceutical Res. 2002; 19(6):715-728. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016104910582
7. Bižanov G, Tamosiumas V. Immune responses induced in mice after intragastral administration with Sendai virus in combination with extract of Uncaria tomentosa. Scand J Lab Anim Sci. 2005; 32(4):201-207.
9. Bižanov G, Melenkova N, Normantienė T, Jonauskienė I. Adjuvant effect of saponin on the immune responses to bovine serum albumin in hens. Centr Eur J Immunol. 2010; 35(4):187-190.
11. Bižanov G, Barinova N, Jonauskienė I. Adjuvant effect of Shilajit and plant extracts on the immune responses to bovine serum albumin in hens. Centr Eur J Immunol. 2012; 37(2):91-95.
13. Bižanov G, Ramanavičienė A, Normantienė T, Jonauskienė I. Immune responses induced in rabbits after oral administration of bovine serum albumin in combination with different adjuvants (herb extracts, aluminium hydroxide and platinum nanoparticles. World Rabbit Sci. 2016; 24(4):295-301. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2016.4139
15. Jonauskienė I, Bižanov G. Immune responses induced in hens after oral administration of bovine serum albumin in combination with an extract of Uncaria tomentosa. B Vet I Pulawy. 2008; 52(4):667-670.
17. Challcombe SJ, Rahman D, Jeffery H, Davis SS, O'Hagan DT. Enhanced secretory IgA and systemic IgY antibodies after oral immunization with biodegradable microparticles containing antigen. Immunology. 1992; 76(1):164-168.
19. Cox JC, Coulter A R. Adjuvants-a classification and review of their modes of action. Vaccine. 1997; 15(3):248-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-410X(96)00183-1
21. Naim JO, van Oss CJ, Wu W, Giese RF, Nickerson PA. Mechanisms of adjuvancy: I-metal oxides as adjuvants. Vaccine. 1997; 15(11):1183-1193. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-410X(97)00016-9
23. Terpiłowska S, Siwicki AK. The role of selected microelements: selenium, zinc, chromium and iron in immune system. Centr Eur J Immunol. 2011; 36(4):303-307.
25. Svendsen L, Crowley A, Ostergaard LH, Stodulski G, Hau J. Development and comparison of purification strategies for chicken antibodies from egg yolk. Lab Anim Sci. 1995; 45(1):89-93.
27. Najdi S, Nikbakht Brujeni, G, Sheikhi N, Chakhkar S. Development of anti-Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulins Y (IgYs) in quail. Iran J Vet Res. 2016; 17(2):106-110.
29. Hoy ES. Quality control in the clinical immunology laboratory. Immuno Concepts Newslett. 1992; 3:1-4.
31. Chen Y, Inobe J, Marks R, Gonnella P, Kuchroo VK, Weiner HL. Peripheral deletion of antigen-reactive T cells in oral tolerance. Nature. 1995; 376(6536):177-180. https://doi.org/10.1038/376177a0
33. Strobel S, Mowat AM. Immune responses to dietary antigens: oral tolerance. Immunol Today. 1998; 19(4):173-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5699(97)01239-5
35. Mayo SL, Persdotter-Hedlund G, Tufvesson M, Hau J. Systemic immune response of young chickens orally immunized with bovine serum albumin. In Vivo. 2003; 17(3):261-268.
37. Klipper E, Sklan D, Friedman A. Immune responses of chickens to dietary protein antigens. I. Induction of systemic and intestinal immune responses following oral administration of soluble proteins in absence of adjuvant. Vet J Immunol. 2000; 35(3-4):209-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-2427(00)00172-0
39. Masuda K, Horie K, Suzuki R, Yoshikawa T, Hirano K. Oral-antigen delivery via a water-in-oil emulsion system modulates the balance of the Th1/Th2 type response in oral tolerance. Pharmaceut Res. 2003; 20(1):130-134. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022267312869
41. Shafi TA, Bansal BK, Gupta DK, Nayyar S. Evaluation of immunotherapeutic potential of Ocimum sanctum in bovine subclinical mastitis. Turk J Vet Anim Sci. 2016; 40(3):352-358. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-1506-96
43. Vahedi G, Taghavi M, Maleki A.K, Habibian R. The effect of Aloe vera extract on humoral and cellular immune response in rabbit. Afr J Biotech. 2011; 10(26):5225-5228.
45. Ban M, Langonné I, Goutet M, Huguet N, Pépin E. Simultaneous analysis of the local and systemic immune responses in mice to study the occupational asthma mechanisms induced by chromium and platinum. Toxicology. 2010; 277(1-3): 29-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2010.08.010
47. Liu JY. A study on the immunology and etiology of platinum induced asthma. Chin J Tuberculosis Resp Dis 1991; 14(5):264-317.
49. Asai K. Miracle cure: Organic germanium. Japan: Publication Inc Kodancka Intenat Via Hasper ans Row; 1980.
51. Li Y. The health efficacy of Aloe and its gevelopment and utilization. Asia Social Sci. 2009; 5(9):151-154. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v5n9p151
53. Pauly D, Dorner M, Zhang X, Hlinak A, Dorner B, Schade R. Monitoring of laying capacity, immunoglobulin Y concentration, and antibody titer development in chickens immunized with ricin and botulinum toxins over a two-year period. Poultry Sci. 2009; 88(2):281–290. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2008-00323