Dr. Vijay K. Bharti

Extremes of climate and hypobaric hypoxia cause poor growth performance in broiler chickens at high altitude and the present study investigates the effect of aqueous extract of Salix alba leaves on growth performance, antioxidant level and immune status of broiler chickens reared at high altitude cold desert (3500 m). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the extract revealed the presence of salicin and caffeic acid. In vitro efficacy evaluation revealed that the extract had a significant cytoprotective effect on lymphocytes. For in-vivo study, a total of 105 one d old RIR cross-bred broiler chickens were randomly assigned to seven groups: 1) Control fed basal diet and 2) Six treatments fed basal diet + S. alba extract @100, 150, 200, 300, 400, and 800 mg kg−1 body weight of chicken, respectively. Chickens in the Salix 300 group had greater body weight (p < 0.05) and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to other treatments. Furthermore, chickens had greater (p < 0.05) total antioxidant capacity (TAC), free radical scavenging activity, interleukin-2, and lower malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 concentration as compared to the control group. Net profit was also increased in all the treatments that were fed diet with S. alba extract due to less mortality in chickens. These findings indicated that inclusion S. alba extract at dose concentration of 300 mg kg−1 body weight of chicken, exhibited a beneficial effect on growth performance through immunomodulation and up-regulation of antioxidants, and therefore, it has a potential to be used as a phytogenic feed additive for improving broiler performance at high altitude.

Extremes of climate and hypobaric hypoxia cause poor growth performance in broiler chickens at high altitude. The present study examined the potential of Hippophae rhamnoides extract as phytogenic feed additive for broilers reared at 3500 m above mean sea level (MSL). Higher content of phytomolecules were recorded during characterization of the extract. Immunomodulatory activity of extract was observed in chicken lymphocytes through in-vitro studies. Thereafter, for in vivo study, 105 day old Rhode Island Red (RIR) Cross-bred chicks were randomly distributed in to control and treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 which were supplemented with H. rhamnoides aqueous extract along with basal diet, at level of 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of chicken, respectively. Among the experimental groups, birds in the T3 group represent the highest body weight. Furthermore, treatment group birds had shown better physio-biochemical indices as compared to control group birds. Interestingly, lower mortality rate due to ascites and coccidiosis was recorded in treatment groups and therefore, higher net return was observed. Hence, present investigation demonstrated the beneficial effect of H. rhamnoides extract (@200 mg/kg) at high altitude and therefore, may be used in formulation of feed additive for poultry ration. There has been significant improvement in the growth performance in broiler poultry industry has been achieved in India over the last twenty years. But in the stressful environmental conditions of high altitude cold desert Himalayas which are depicted with supreme temperature differences (from +35 °C to −35 °C), hypobaric hypoxia, excessive Ultraviolet radiations, very less availability of water vapours in the atmosphere and shortage of animal food, the growth rate of poultry chickens is severely affected and due to which poultry farming is not more successful in this part of world 1–3. These unfavourable environmental conditions cause variation in physiological functions which could results in metabolic disorders and deficiency in essential nutrients 4. Low partial pressure of oxygen (PO 2) at high altitude alters the electron transport mechanisms of mitochondria which leads to the excessive formation of free radicals causing oxidative stress which results in the more oxidative damage to macromolecules and impaired immune status in livestock animals 2,3. Free radicals are highly unstable, very reactive radicals which can start chain reaction once formed and are capable of damaging molecules such as DNA, proteins, lipids or carbohydrates. The damage to biological molecules ultimately compromises growth, development, immunocompetence and reproduction in livestock 5,6. However, the Himalayan region is abundant in several plants species which are widely used in traditional systems of medicines particularly ' Amchi' system of medicine for treatment of various ailments 7. ' Amchi' system of medicine which is also called 'Sowa Rigpa' (Science of healing) is one of the oldest, living and well documented medical tradition of the world which has been popularly practice in Tibet, Magnolia, Bhutan, some parts of China, Nepal, and trans-Himalayan regions of India 8,9. Incorporation of phytomolecules rich herbal plant extract in poultry diet in the form of feed additives would have been promising benefits on health and nutritional status of the chickens. Hippophae rhamnoides commonly known as seabuckthorn (SBT) is a temperate shrub growing at an altitude of 3000 to 4500 m above MSL in high altitude Himalayas 10. Every part of the H. rhamnoides plant is an abundant source of bioactive plant phytomolecules such as polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins, carotenoids, organic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids 10,11. In the traditional ayurvadic system of medicine the extract of H. rhamnoides fruits has been used as an immunomodulator and anti-stress agent 12. Previous studies reported various pharmacological activities of H. rhamnoides including antioxidant 13 , immunomodulatory 14 , anti-stress 15 ,

Extremes of climate and hypobaric hypoxia cause poor growth performance in broiler chickens at high altitude.
The current study was designed to investigate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Rhodiola imbricata on
antioxidant, cytokines, blood biochemical and growth performance of broilers at high altitude (3500 m). For invivo study, one day-old broiler chicks of average initial body weight 36.40±0.42 g were randomly assigned to
seven groups in three replicates (10 chicks in each replicate) as per completely randomized design. Experimental
groups included control (fed basal diet), and treatment T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 which received hydro-alcoholic
extract of Rhodiola imbricata in drinking water @ 100, 150, 200, 300, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of chicken
respectively, along with basal diet. Blood samples were collected at 0, 21st, and 42nd day. HPLC analysis of extract
revealed the presence of salidroside and p-tyrosol. As a result of this study, birds in T5 group had significantly
higher body weight as compared to other groups. Furthermore, they had significantly higher total antioxidant
capacity, free radical scavenging activity, interleukin-2, total protein, globulin, HDL level and lower malondialdehyde,
interleukin-6, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, glucose, A/G, ALT, AST level as compared to control group. Our
results suggest that, Rhodiola imbricata extract @ 400 mg/kg body weight of chicken, exhibited beneficial effect
on growth performance and therefore, can be used as a phytogenic feed additive for broiler chickens.

The efficiency of oxygen usage and energy metabolism is important for high altitude adaptation and optimum performance of animals. With regards to adaptation and productivity of high yielder animals, high-altitude stress (hypobaric-hypoxia, cold stress) is a primary concern at high altitude. Cardiovascular system is an essential link in the transport of oxygen from the air to the mitochondria, and it therefore has an important role in acclimatization and adaptation to the oxygen depleted environment of high altitude. These pathophysiological changes belong to the morphological, functional, and component of cardiovascular system which can be detected as the biomarker whenever changes are found in this system. These cardiovascular biomarkers are structural, hematological, biochemical, molecular, and genetic. This lecture has reviewed the different types of cardiovascular biomarkers which are important in high altitude adaptation and therefore may be helpful in selection of adapted animals for future breeding and rearing at high altitude. Some structural biomarkers are hypertrophy of auricle and ventricle, pulmonary arterial pressure, hypertension, myocardial contractibility, hydrothorax, ascites, etc., whereas hematocrit levels, blood viscosity, plateletatic, are hematological biomarkers. Cardiac troponin-I and troponin-T, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), inflammatory markers, rennin, etc. are biochemical biomarkers. Details of these biomarkers and other related markers will be discussed in present lecture. These biomarkers concentration or levels are indicator of physiological state genetic make-up of animals of respective environmental condition. Hence, these biomarkers along with performance and physical traits may be considered for selection high altitude adapted animals for breeding and rearing.

Halfway through the twentieth century, fluoride piqued the interest of toxicologists due to its deleterious effects due to high concentrations in animals as well as in human populations suffering from several types of disorders and in in-vivo experimental models. Until the 1990s, the toxicity of fluoride was largely ignored due to its " good reputation " for preventing caries via topical application and in dental toothpaste. However, in the last decade, interest in its undesirable effects has resurfaced due to the awareness that this element interacts with cellular systems even at low doses. In recent years, several investigations demonstrated that fluoride can induce oxidative stress and modulate intracellular redox homoeostasis; lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl content, as well as alter gene expression and cause apoptosis. Genes modulated by fluoride include those related to the stress response, metabolic enzymes, the cell cycle, cell–cell communications and signal transduction. The primary purpose of this review is to examine recent findings on the effects of fluoride on oxidative stress, immune system and apoptosis in the animal as well as in human system.