الفهرس 
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Abstract
The present study was an attempt to study the possible immunomodulatory role of some plant essential oils as basil, Echinacea and ginseng in broiler chicks and to provide a natural alternative to the use of flumequine as growth promoter.
In this trial a total of one hundred and fifty one- day old unsexed (Cobb) chicks with an average body weight of (48.60±0.727) gm were randomly distributed into5 equal groups, each one contained 30 chicks (10chicks\replicate).
group (1): was treated with basal diet without any additives and served as control group.
group (2): it was received (1) gm\kg diet flumequine.
group (3): it was received (0.5) gm\kg diet basil essential oil.
group (4): it was received (0.5) gm\kg diet Echinacea essential oil.
group (5): it was received (0.5) gm\kg diet ginseng essential oil.
The experiment was carried out in pharmacology dept. Fac. Vet. Med. Ismailia university, Egypt and extended for 35 day during the period from April to May 2015.
The feed intake, body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were determined weekly, as well as, total efficiency was recorded. Blood samples (two samples per replicate) were taken for hematological and biochemical analysis (days 21 and 35), and also, for measuring antibody responses by haemagglutination inhibition test (days 28 and 35). At 21st and 35th days old, three birds from each group (two/replicate) were slaughtered for lymphoid organ index. At the end of the experiment, three birds from each group (two/replicate) were slaughtered for histopathological measurements.
Results obtained could be summarized as following:-
1-On growth performance
Basil Eo-treated group (G3) showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the feed intake compared with control untreated group (G1).
Basil, echinacea and ginseng Eos-treated groups (G3 and G5) reflected a significant increase in final body weight when compared with control untreated group (G1) while flumequine treated group (G2) showed significant decrease in final body weight compared with control untreated group (G1).
There was significant decrease in total FCR in basil, echinacea and ginseng Eo- supplemented groups than those received basal diets only without any additives (control group) (G1) while There was increase in total FCR in flumequine supplemented groups when compared with control group.
2-On hematological parameters
At the end of 3rd week there was a significant increase in the WBCs count in ginseng Eo- supplemented group (G5) compared with control group (G1) but there was a significant decrease in WBCs in flumequine supplemented group (G2) compared with control group (G1). At the end of 5th week there was a significant increase in RBCs count in flumequine and echinacea Eo- treated groups (G2 and G5). All treated groups showed significant increase in Hb compared with control group (G1). There is significant increase in PCV% in groups fed flumequine, echinacea and ginseng Eos compared with control group (G1).
3-On serum biochemical parameters
A) On plasma protein fractionation
At 35th day there was a significant decrease in Total protein in flumequine supplemented group compared with control group (G1). Flumequine, basil, and echinacea Eos-treated groups showed a significant decrease in total gamma-globulin and gamma-globulin1 compared with control group (G1). Flumequine and echinacea Eos-treated showed a significant decrease in gamma-globulin 2, total beta-globulin, beta globulin1, and beta globulin 2 compared with control group (G1). Also flumequine treated group (G2) showed a significant decrease in total alpha globulin compared with control group (G1).
4- Broiler immunity
A) Lymphoid organ index
All treated groups (G2, G3, G4, and G5) showed significant decrease in bursa Fabricius index than control group at 21st day. While at 35th day echinacea supplemented group showed a significant increase in bursa Fabricius index when compared with control group.
On the haemagglutination inhibition
It was showed that, at 21th day basil Eo-supplemented group (G3) showed significant decrease in HI antibody titer against ND, however, ginseng Eo-supplemented group (G5) showed a significant increase in HI antibody titer against AI compared with control group (G1) while at 35th day flumequine treated group reflected a significant decrease in HI antibody titer against AI compared with control group.
C) Cells phagocytic activity
It had been found that the basil, echinacea and ginseng oil changed the phagocytic activity and the functional changes compared to control. Our results revealed that flumequine treated group showed significant increase in phagocytic activity compared to control group at 21st day while basil, echinacea and ginseng supplemented groups showed significant increase in phagocytic % and phagocytic index when compared with control group at 21st and 35th day and this result indicate that these essential oils have immunostimulant effect on chicken immune system.