The alteration in different milk parameters in goats of different groups at different interval of study are summarized in Table 1. A significant increase in SCC was recorded in milk of goats affected with sub-clinical mastitis as compared to healthy control before treatment (day 0). The SCC in goats of both B and C group was 1441.70±43.23 and 1276.0±131.63, respectively and the count was significantly high as compared to healthy control group, 74.33±21.72. After therapy, the values were reduced significantly in both groups B and C and values were statistically similar to healthy control. The fat % of milk in goats affected with sub clinical mastitis reduced significantly (p<0.05) as compared to that of healthy control before initiation of any therapy (day 0). Group B and C showed significant increase in the fat % of milk at day 14. SNF % of milk was increased significantly post therapy in both group B and C at day 14 and the values had no significant difference as that of healthy control. No significant differences were observed in the mean values of milk density, protein and lactose content either between the groups or within groups across different observation periods. A non-significant increase in milk protein and lactose concentrations was noted in groups B and C compared to the healthy control on Day 0. However, a non-significant decrease in milk protein (%) and lactose (%) was recorded in groups B and C on Days 7 and 14 compared to the healthy control. The pH of milk was decreased significantly post therapy in group B and C on day 7 as well as day 14 and the values had no significant difference as that of healthy control.
Table 2 summarizes the alteration of hematological findings in animals of all the three groups at different interval of study. The mean concentration of total leucocytic count (TLC) increased significantly in groups B and C as compared to healthy control goats at day 0. After treatment with
Moringa oleifera the TLC concentration decreased significantly at day 7 and the values were statistically similar to that of healthy control at day 14. The mean concentrations of neutrophil and lymphocytes also followed similar pattern as that of TLC in all the groups at different interval of study. No significant differences were observed in the mean concentrations of hemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC, either between the groups or within groups at different observation periods. The above concentrations of all three treatment groups were statistically similar with the healthy control goats throughout the study period.
Table 3 summarizes the alteration of biochemical findings in animals of all three groups at different interval of study. The mean of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was significantly increased in all the goats affected with sub-clinical mastitis as compared to healthy control goats on day 0.
Moringa oleifera treatment in groups B and C was unable to reduce the BUN concentration significantly at Day 7 and 14. Mean values of serum creatinine also followed the same trend as that of BUN in different groups at various interval of study. Mean total protein (TP) concentration increased significantly (p<0.05) in all groups B and C as compared to healthy control on day 0. After treatment with
Moringa oleifera, total protein concentration reduced significantly in both groups B and C on day 14 but, the values were statistically not comparable to that of healthy control goats. Mean albumin and globulin concentration in goats with SCM was increased significantly in group B and C as compared to healthy control goats at different interval of study periods, but values were differed non significantly within the various treatment groups at different interval of study period.
The mean concentration of ALT increased significantly in all the two-treatment groups as compared to healthy control goats on day 0.
Moringa oleifera treatment in both oral doses was unable to reduce the ALT concentration significantly. Mean values of serum ALP concentration also followed the same trend as that of ALT in different groups at various interval of study. No Significant differences were observed in the mean concentration of AST, either between the groups or within groups, across different observation periods of study. The AST concentrations of all two treatment groups were statistically similar with the healthy control goats throughout the study period. Although there may be some significant variance in mean ALT, AST and ALP concentration between groups B and C as compared to healthy control goats, but the values were within the normal range in all the groups at different observation periods of study.
Table 4 summarizes the comparison of the therapeutic efficacy between groups B and C. Six goats in each groups received
Moringa oleifera dried leaf powder at the dose rate of 10 mg/kg (group B) and 50 mg/kg (group C), administered twice daily for 7 days. Following treatment, 5 animals (83.33%) and 10 quarters (83.33%) in both groups showed complete recovery from sub-clinical mastitis, as confirmed by CMT score and somatic cell count (SCC) reduction.
Moringa oleifera is being used as traditional medicine and valued for its nutritional and their leaves are particularly found to be rich in vitamins, mineral and potent antioxidants
(Silva et al., 2014). Previous studies have already demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic and anticancer properties and its role in enhancing blood cell production
(Bhattacharya et al., 2014; Suphachai et al., 2014). However, despite extensive research on
M. oleifera, there is limited data on its effect on milk parameters, hematological and biochemical profile in case of subclinical mastitis in goats.
The present study investigated the effects of
M. oleifera therapy on milk composition and somatic cell count in goats. Pre-treatment somatic cell count (SCC) values were higher in infected groups (B and C) compared to healthy control group, aligning with previous studies.
(Kolte et al., 2008; Singh et al., 2019). After treatment, there was significant reduction in somatic cell count (SCC) in both the groups (B and C) was observed at different interval of study indicating reduction of inflammation which was in accordance with previous findings (
Raikwar, 2012,
Nisha et al., 2022).
Milk fat% significantly reduced in sub-clinical mastitis animals but, the values were increased significantly at day 14 after the treatment in groups B and C. These results were in accordance with the previous findings
(Korsor et al., 2018; Selmi et al., 2020 and
Nisha et al., 2022). Milk solid-not-fat (SNF) also followed a similar pattern like milk fat % improving post treatment in group B and C. The increase in the fat content in milk may be due to enhanced fermentation efficiency facilitated by amino acids, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium present in
M. oleifera leaves required for optimal milk synthesis
(Kholif et al., 2016).
In this investigation, density of milk, milk protein and lactose concentration followed non-significant changes in all the groups at different interval of study before and after the therapy. pH was significantly higher in the both treatment groups B and C than healthy control group at day 0 and it was reduced significantly after treatment with
Moringa oleifera at day 14. The decrease in pH following
Moringa oleifera treatment may be attributed to a reduction in alkalinity due to inflammation, which increases Na+ and Cl- ions concentration in the milk
(Ahmed et al., 2005). The findings of this study are consistent with previous studies on the effect of
Moringa oleifera leaves in cow, which demonstrated reduction in pH of milk after Moringa supplementation
(Safangat et al., 2017; Mooventhan et al., 2016).
The hematological profile is used to assess the health condition and in subclinical mastitis the changes in all the parameters were observed in group B and C as compared to healthy control group at day 0. In the present study, mean total leukocytes count (TLC), neutrophils % and lymphocytes % were decreased significantly in both the treatment groups. A similar increase in TLC accompanied by an increase in absolute number of monocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils has also been documented in lactating cows in previous studies
(Alhussien et al., 2015; Sarvesha et al., 2016). M. oleifera leaves significantly decrease the mean TLC, neutrophils % and lymphocytes % which might be due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect although the mechanism of action is yet unknown
(Nurhayati et al., 2023). However, significant differences in mean concentration of hemoglobin, total erythrocytic count, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC either between the groups or within groups at different observation periods of study before and after therapy. Similar findings were also reported in a study
Piccione et al. (2014).
There have been limited studies of
Moringa oleifera on biochemical profile of sub-clinical mastitis affected animals. Our study showed significant reduction in total protein, albumin and globulin concentration in both treatment groups (B and C); however, no significant difference was observed in the BUN and serum creatinine levels in both the treatment groups (B and C). The ALT, AST and ALP concentration varies statistically at different interval of study in various groups but, all values were within normal range. Many studies have highlighted potential effect methanolic extract of
Moringa oleifera on the BUN and creatinine in rats’ models
(Akinrinde et al., 2020; Abdelazim et al., 2024), however our study revealed no significant changes in these values.
The present study also proved the therapeutic potential of
Moringa oleifera leaves in treatment of subclinical mastitis. In the present study, both Group B and Group C demonstrated an 83.33% cure rate against sub-clinical mastitis
, with no difference observed between the two dosage levels (10 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg). The present curative results are in agreement with the observations with previous findings in cure of mastitis in cows
(Safangat et al., 2017; Mooventhan et al., 2016;
Aruna, 2019). Our study suggests that
Moringa oleifera dried leaf powder, when administered orally was found effective against sub clinical mastitis and can be used as alternate treatment therapy while enhancing milk quality and hematological and biochemical profile.
