Use of Moringa oleifera leaves in broiler production chain. 1 - Effect on Sasso breeder hens performances, internal quality of hatching eggs and serum lipids.

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) on breeder hen performance, hatching egg quality and blood parameters. A total of 180 Sasso broiler breeder hens were used for the study. They were allotted to two groups each containing 3 replicates of 30 hens of 18 weeks of age. Dietary treatments were a control diet (basal diet without moringa leaves) and a diet containing 10g of moringa leaves in 1kg of control diet (1% w/w). The experiment lasted 40 weeks. The following production parameters; feed intake, egg weight, laying rate and feed conversion ratio were measured for the whole experimental period while egg quality and blood parameters were assessed at different ages. Results showed that laying rate and hatching egg weight were improved by moringa meal diet for the whole experimental period. Feed intake and feed conversation ratio were decreased (p < .05) by incorporation of moringa leaves. Differences (p < .01) were observed in albumen and yolk ratio at 55th week of age. Yolk colour was (p < .001) improved by moringa meal at 31st, 43rd and 55th week of age. At the end of the experiment, serum concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic index were decreased (p < .05) while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was unaffected (p > .05) by incorporation of moringa in the diet. It was concluded that the use of moringa leaves as feed additive in Sasso breeders diet improved productivity and quality of hatching eggs.

Extracts of Tectona grandis and Vernonia amygdalina have anti-Toxoplasma and pro-inflammatory properties in vitro.

Tectona grandis (teak) and Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) are plants used in traditional medicine in West Africa. In this study, we tested ethanolic and hydro-ethanolic extracts of bark and leaves of T. grandis and ethanolic extract of leaves of V. amygdalina for their inhibitory effect on Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis. Ethanolic extract of V. amygdalina leaves had proportional contents of phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. This extract presented the highest efficacy against T. gondii, the lowest cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, but moderate anti-oxidant activity compared to other plant extracts. Ethanolic extract of T. grandis bark also had elevated anti-T. gondii activity, low cytotoxicity on mammalian cells, and one of the highest anti-oxidant activities. However, the phytochemical content of this extract was not very different from the hydro-ethanolic extract, which had no anti-T. gondii activity. In addition, ethanolic extract of V. amygdalina leaves, but not of T. grandis bark, significantly increased the production of TNF-α and NO by antigen-presenting cells. Both extracts had the tendency to decrease expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules at the surface of antigen-presenting cells, while they did not modulate the percentage of apoptotic cells. A study of signalling pathways would help to determine the mechanisms of action of these plant extracts.

TITLE: Les extraits de Tectona grandis et de Vernonia amygdalina ont des propriétés anti-Toxoplasma et pro-inflammatoires in vitro. ABSTRACT: Tectona grandis (teck) et Vernonia amygdalina sont des plantes utilisées dans la médecine traditionnelle en Afrique de l'Ouest. Dans cette étude, l'effet inhibiteur d'extraits éthanoliques et hydro-éthanoliques d'écorce et de feuilles de T. grandis et de l'extrait éthanolique des feuilles de V. amygdalina a été étudié sur Toxoplasma gondii, un parasite protozoaire responsable de la toxoplasmose. L'extrait éthanolique des feuilles de V. amygdalina avait des quantités équivalentes de phénols, tanins, flavonoïdes et polysaccharides. Cet extrait présentait la plus grande efficacité contre T. gondii, la plus faible cytotoxicité vis-à-vis de cellules de mammifères, mais une activité anti-oxydante moyenne comparée aux autres extraits de plantes. L'extrait éthanolique d'écorce de T. grandis avait aussi une activité anti-T. gondii élevée, une faible cytotoxicité vis-à-vis des cellules de mammifères et l'une des activités anti-oxydantes les plus élevées. Cependant, le contenu phytochimique de cet extrait n'était pas très différent de l'extrait hydro-éthanolique qui n'avait pas d'activité anti-T. gondii. De plus, l'extrait éthanolique des feuilles de V. amygdalina, mais pas de l'écorce de T. grandis, augmentait significativement la production de TNF-α et de NO par les cellules présentatrices d'antigènes. Les deux extraits avaient tendance à diminuer l'expression des molécules du complexe majeur d'histocompatibilité à la surface des cellules présentatrices d'antigènes alors qu'ils ne modulaient pas le pourcentage de cellules apoptotiques. L'étude des voies de signalisation permettrait de comprendre les mécanismes d'action de ces extraits de plantes.