Therapeutic evaluation of Murraya koenigii in bovine subclinical mastitis

Abstract

The present study was aimed to evaluate Murraya koenigii leaves for in vitro antibacterial activity of its hydro-alcoholic extract against common bovine mastitogens, and thereafter, in vivo therapeutic efficacy in subclinical mastitis affected dairy cows. The final yield of herbal extract (g/ 100g of herb) from M. koenigii leaves was 7.8%. The antibacterial activity of the hydro-alcoholic extract in terms of the average zone of inhibition shown by M. koenigii against S. aureus and E. coli were 14.13 mm and 16.00 mm respectively and the respective minimum inhibitory concentration was 31.25 mg/ml and 125 mg/ml. In vivo therapy of the herb against specific subclinical mastitis of cows revealed significant decline in total bacterial count, California Mastitis Test score, Somatic Cell Count, electrical conductivity, pH and lymphocytes while there was significant increase in milk neutrophils, and effect on the elimination of intra mammary infections (50.00%) against control (25.00%) on day 28 of treatment was found non-significant (χ2 at 01df, N=64 = 1.641, p > 0.5). Therapy with M. koenigii showed significant effect on minimizing the udder inflammation and improvement of milk quality; however, nonsignificant effect on elimination of intra mammary infections warrants more research while using this herb or its pure active constituents in bovine sub-clinical mastitis.