Aloe Vera as an Immunostimulant in Chickens : Immunstimulatory Effects of Aloe Vera and its Protective Efficacy Against Avian Coccidiosis

The use of plants and their products as immunmodulators and therapeutics has a traditional history. However, the isolation of the active compound(s) involved did not gain much momentum till the 19th century. More than 64 per cent of the world's population use botanic drugs to combat health problems and almost 50 per cent of the synthetic medicines has been derived from, or patterned after, phytochemicals. According to Christopher Columbus "Four vegetables are indispensable for the well being of man and these include wheat, the grape, the olive and the Aloe. Aloe vera has diverse biological activities and is frequently used in herbal medicines as a curative agent and dietary supplement. Results of the 6study demonstrated the boosting effects of Aloe vera on the immune responses in chickens and protective efficacy against avian coccidiosis. It was concluded that Aloe vera may be a potential and valuable immunostimulant in chickens and a low cost alternative to allopathic drugs being used for the control of avian coccidiosis.