Evaluation of immunotherapeutic potential of Ocimum sanctum in bovine subclinical mastitis

Mastitis, the inflammation of mammary glands, is caused by a wide range of contagious and environmental microbes, whose clearance from the udder is generally dependent on the use of antibiotics. However, antibiotic therapy may result in development of drug-resistant microbes and depress the activity of polymorphonuclear cells. The present study was therefore undertaken to explore the immunotherapeutic potential of an herb, Ocimum sanctum, in mastitis in dairy cows. The study involved twenty HF x Sahiwal lactating dairy cows, each identified with at least one specific subclinical mastitis quarter as per International Dairy Federation criteria. The cows were divided into two equal groups: a control group and a group administered O. sanctum leaf powder at 600 mg/kg body weight daily divided into two doses orally for 7 days. The treatment could eliminate 69.23% of intramammary infections (chi(2) = 5.07; P <= 0.5) and resulted in a significant reduction in somatic cell count and ceruloplasmin concentration, thus subsiding udder inflammation and improving milk quality. The herb was also found to possess immunomodulation potential, as evidenced by the significant increase in phagocytic activity of milk neutrophils and enhanced lactoperoxidase and myeloperoxidase activities. Thus, the results indicated the immunotherapeutic potential of O. sanctum in treating bovine-specific subclinical mastitis.