ESTRUS INDUCTION RESPONSE IN ANESTRUS COWS TREATED WITH HERBAL PLANTS WITH REFRENCE TO AEGLE MARMELOS (BAEL) AND MURRAYA KOENIGII (CURRY)
Anju kujur1, N. Srivastava2, Arunpandian J.3
Division of Animal reproduction,
ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly-243122.
1Phd scholar, 2Principal Scientist, 3MVSc scholar
Anestrus is more common in India especially in rural regions, owing to malnutrition and poor management practises. The main problems in using hormones for animal fertility management are the high cost, lack of rapid assay facilities, lack of readily available commercial formulations, and the requirement for veterinary care. Herbal remedies can be a good alternative to hormones because they’re inexpensive, effective, and socially acceptable, and they’re usually the sole option with little adverse effects. As a result of the synergistic or cumulative impacts of their active principles, herbal mixtures can have considerable effects. Plants in their natural state exhibit a wide range of actions and have enormous potential as a source of novel drugs. Murraya koenigii and Aegle marmelos, both used in traditional medicine, have been shown to improve reproductive function in laboratory rats and anestrus goats, as well as cattle and buffalo.
Keywords : Anestrus, Farmers, Herbal, Murraya koenigii, Aegle marmelos
INTRODUCTION
In the future decades, reproductive diseases will continue to be a major stumbling block to achieving livestock’s full production potential. Anestrus is one of the most prevalent and difficult reproductive problems in cattle and buffalo in India, lowering reproductive potential and resulting in major economic loss for small and marginal farmers as well as the dairy industry as a whole. The incidence of anestrus in cattle in our nation has been estimated to range from 25% to 67 percent. Anestrus is still more prevalent in rural regions, owing to malnutrition and poor management practise.
Anestrus is a reproductive cycle functional condition characterised by the absence of overt signs of estrus, which can be owing to a lack of expression or an inability to identify it. In general, it is seen in postpubertal heifers, pregnant heifers, lactating heifers, and adult animals in the early postpartum period. It is a multi-cause disease, although it is primarily caused by poor nutrition, environmental stress, uterine pathology, and inappropriate managemental techniques. The existence of a functioning corpus leutum, known as functional or apperent anestrus, is caused by pregnancy, pyometra, mummification, and a mummified foetus, whereas the absence of a functional corpus leutum, known as true anestrus, is caused by malnutrition, senility, or seasonal stress. It’s also known as prepubertal anestrus, postpartum anestrus, and post service anestrus, depending on the stage of the animal. Various treatment agents, both hormonal and non-hormonal, have been used to address this condition, but most synthetic medications have become unsatisfactory to dairy farmers due to high costs and uneven results. Although hormone preparations produce positive results, the high cost, lingering effects, and risk of side effects are always a concern. Various medicinal herbs are now being promoted as cheaper, more effective, and safer alternatives to more expensive hormones in the treatment of various reproductive diseases in livestock. Since ancient times, India has been the repository of a great number of medicinal plants. Plants with medicinal properties are used to treat a variety of diseases and problems in humans and animals. Many medicinal plants have been effectively utilised in the treatment of anestrus, according to the Rigveda.
Alkaloids, glycosides, terpenes, and tannins (secondary metabolites) are among the phytochemicals found in plants, and many of them have medicinal properties. Many plants are high in vitamins and minerals, and some have estrogenic properties that can help anestrus animals regain their cyclicity.
Various plant which used for the induction of estrus
Many plants, including Abroma augusta (Ulatkambal), Saracaasoca (Ashoka), Trigonellafoenum–graecum (Methi), Bambusa aruninacea, Carica papaya, Asparagus recemosus, Leptadenia reticulate, Courupita guianesis, Pergulaeria daemia and Semecarpus anacardium, cucumber, Murraya koenigii (curry leaves), Nigella sativa (kalonji), Aeglemarmelos, and jute plants have been fed to anestrus animals with varying responses on induction of estrus, either alone or in combination.
Anoestrus can be overcome by feeding cows fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) powder. Unripe papaya (Carica papaya) fruits (about 2-3 kg) are cut and given to the animal once a week for 4-5 days to promote heat in the animal. Cucumber leaves are administered to the animal to help it return to its normal heat. Bamboo leaves are fed to cattle to bring them into regular heat. The animal is brought into heat by feeding it jute plant leaves (approximately 2-2.5 kilogramme). Anoestrus can be overcome by feeding Mann tree leaves (about 15-20 kilogramme). For anoestrus treatment, a mixture of black pepper (10 grains) and vanghuchi (20-25) is given twice a day with a 6-8 hour interval for 1-2 days. The leaves of the silk cotton tree are pulverised and mixed with fermented boiling rice water, and the resulting extract is given to cows orally as a treatment for reproductive issues. For three days, drink around 500 ml three times a day. When an animal is not going into heat or fails to conceive three to four seeds or fruits of bhilama (Semecarpus anacardium) are fed to it for three to four days which shows good result When an animal is not going into heat or fails to conceive three to four seeds or fruits of bhilama (Semecarpus anacardium) are fed to it for three to four days which shows good result
Table: Plants used to stimulate cow follicle growth and estrus.
| S.NO | Plants | Parts | ||||
| 1. | Aloes barbadensis | Whole plant | ||||
| 2. | Abroma augusta (ulatkambal) | Root | ||||
| 3. | Aristolochia bracteata | Whole plant | ||||
| 4. | Nigella sativa | Seeds | ||||
| 5 | Urtica dioica | Root | ||||
| 6. | Trigonellafoenum–graecum (Methi) | Whole plant | ||||
| 7. | Carica papaya | Unripe fruits | ||||
| 8. | Cucumber | Leaves | ||||
| 9. | Leptadenia reticulate | Whole plant | ||||
| 10. | Asparagus recemosus | Whole plant | ||||
| 11. | Bamboo | Leaves | ||||
| 12. | Jute Plant | Leaves(about 2-2.5kg) | ||||
| 13. | Pergularia daemia (Dudheli) | Pods | ||||
| 14. | Semecarpus anacardium | seeds | ||||
| 15. | Trichoxanthus tricuspidata | Boiled unriped fruits | ||||
| 16. | Hybanthus enneaspermum | Plant paste | ||||
| 17. | Potentilla fulgens | Whole plant Whole plant | ||||
| 18. | Bridelia ferrugiana | Whole plant | ||||
| 19. | Ficus elastica | Whole plant | ||||
| 20. | Gardenia ternifolia | Whole plant | ||||
| 21. | Murraya Koenigii | Leaves | ||||
| 22. | Aegle marmelos | Leaves | ||||
A variety of herbal formulations used in traditional Indian medicine have powerful antioxidants that should be investigated further. Many recent studies have suggested that Aegle marmelos and Murraya koenigii have the potential to be used as natural antioxidant sources, particularly polyphenols .
Dose extrapolation
Dose extrapolation is a method of calculating the amount of medication needed. The dose of the above herbal plants powder for cattle was calculated from the rats using the dose equivalent approach via the Km factor table given by VAN MIERT in 1986. The Km factor is calculated by comparing the ratio of body weight to surface area in several animal species. Murraya koenigii and Aegle marmelos 50 percent ethanolic extracts were tested in rats at 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg, respectively, and the 1000 mg/kg dose was found to be effective in improving ovarian function. The dose equivalent system described by Van Miert was used to extrapolate dose from rat (1000mg/kg) to cow (1986). Rats and cows have a km factor of 6 and 100, respectively.
| Species | Body wt.(kg) | Surface area (m²) | km factor | dose equivalent (per kg) | ||||||
| Man adult | 60 | 1.6 | 37.5 | 1 | ||||||
| Man child | 20 | 0.8 | 25 | 1.5 | ||||||
| Mouse | 0.02 | 0.0066 | 3 | 12.5 | ||||||
| Rat | 0.15 | 0.025 | 6 | 6.3 | ||||||
| Cat | 3 | 0.24 | 12.5 | 3 | ||||||
| Dog | 16 | 0.65 | 24.5 | 1.5 | ||||||
| Sheep/goat | 50 | 1.1 | 45.5 | 0.8 | ||||||
| Pig | 75 | 1.5 | 50 | 0.75 | ||||||
| Cow | 500 | 5.0 | 100 | 0.4 | ||||||
| 1Pony | 280 | 4.4 | 63.5 | 0.6 | ||||||
| Horse | 650 | 5.9 | 110 | 0.3 | ||||||
Dose of extract for the species was calculated as below
Dose of extract to be extrapolated for species = X dose of known sp.
The dose of the extract was converted to powder form based on the percent yield using the formula
Dose of powder = dose of extract x
The percent yield of Aegle marmelos and Murraya koenigii are11.27 and 14.44. Leaf powder dose on per Kg body weight basis was worked out for Aegle & Murraya separately.
Murraya koenigii
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Murraya
Species: koenigii
Murraya koenigii is a genus of shrubs and small trees found throughout Asia and Australia. It’s also known as Indian curry leaf plant and it’s prized for its distinctive aroma and therapeutic benefits. Apart from koenimibine, the leaves of Murraya Koenigii yielded a number of alkaloids, including koenigicine, cyclomahanimbine, bicyclomananimbineans, and mahanimbidine. Asparagines, glycine, serine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and other free amino acids are found in the leaves. Plant leaves were used in folk herbal therapy to improve animal reproduction. Murraya koenigii, either used alone or in combination with a mineral mixture and a moderate dose of GnRH injection, was equally efficient in producing fertility in anestrus buffaloes. Murraya koenigii was found to be 80 percent effective in treating repeat breeding in dairy. Murraya Koenigii has the ability to stimulate ovarian function in rats as well as encourage treatment response in acyclic goats and cattle in terms of estrus and conception. Feeding rural crossbred heifers 100g of Murraya koenigii leaves dried and feeded in powder form daily for 30 days induces estrus in 60% of the animals and increases serum calcium and phosphate concentrations. In anestrus buffaloes found that induction of estrus took 15.25 days following the conclusion of Murraya koenigii supplementation. Murraya Koeinigii and Aegle marmelos were studied for their effect on anestrus bovine fertility. For nine days, the animals were fed the dried leaves powder from these herbs. Estrus was induced in 60.00 percent (6/10) of the treatment group compared to 10.00 percent (1/10) of the control group animals. Oral administration of methanolic extracts of M. koenigii@500 mg/kg b.w. accelerated puberty age, relative ovary and uterus weight, and the number of ovarian surface follicles in female
Aegle Marmelos
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliophyta
Sub class: Rosidae
Order: Sapinales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Aegle
Species: marmelos
Aegle Marmelos can be found in the dry deciduous forest of central and southern India up to an altitude of 1200 m in the sub-Himalayan tract. Aegelenine and aegeline are alkaloids found in the leaves. It’s used to treat miscarriage, placental retention, repeated estrus in cows and buffaloes, and vaginal discharge, haemorrhages, orchitis, and milk fever, and so forth .In order to induce estrus in large animals, leaves are utilised. The effects of Aegle marmelos in rats, finding that it greatly delays puberty start and results in higher ovarian and uterine weight, increased large surface follicles, and increased the number of ovulations. For nine days, the animals were given shade dried powdered leaves of Aegle marmelos and Murraya koenigii. Under farm and field conditions, the estrus induction response was 80.00 percent and 92.30 percent in the treatment group and 0.00 percent and 46.20 percent in the control group, respectively. The impact of combining Murraya Koenigii and Aegle marmelos therapy on estrus induction and fertility response in delayed pubertal heifers for nine days, the animals were fed shade dried powdered leaves of these herbs mixed with concentrate. It was revealed that 26 (86.70 percent) of 30 treated heifers aged 22 to 48 months with body weights ranging from 200 to 300 kg showed behavioural symptoms of estrus. Under field and farm conditions, the time gap between the start of herb treatment and the onset of behavioural estrus was 11 and 24 days, respectively. It was found that inducing estrus in delayed pubertal heifers after 9 days of treatment with Aegle marmelos and Murraya koenigii, the conception rate was 42.90 to 60.0 percent.
conclusion
An article on herbal treatment for anestrus reveals that it is more effective than hormone treatment in treating anestrus. Murraya koenigii and Aegle marmelos, used singly or in combination, were found to be effective in inducing estrus, ovulation and pregnancy in anestrus goats, cattle, and buffaloes. When compared to individual plant treatments, there are favourable results in terms of estrus induction, ovulation, pregnancy establishment, and a shorter time period for induction of estrus, which could be a reflection of synergistic actions of plant active components. The active ingredients appear to work by either replicating gonadotrophin activity or stimulating the central mechanism for endogenous gonadotrophin release, with the possibility of local action, which requires more research.
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/therapeutic-management-of-anoestrus-in-dairy-cattle-in-india/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5234050/
