沙打旺苗期对黄矮根腐病菌的抗性评价

埃里砖格孢(Embellisia astragali)引致的沙打旺(Astragalus adsurgens)黄矮根腐病是沙打旺草地早衰的主要原因。在室内无菌条件下将沙打旺黄矮根腐病菌接种于10份沙打旺材料上,测定发芽率、发芽势、幼苗苗长、根长、苗干质量、菌丝扩展长度及菌丝侵入深度。结果表明,该病原菌显著提高了10个材料的种子发芽势（P<0.05）,未显著降低参试材料的发芽率（P>0.05）;显著增加了供试材料幼苗的根长,但显著降低了所有材料的苗干质量及6份材料的苗长。菌丝侵入程度也存在显著差异,内蒙早熟和宁夏彭阳幼苗的侵染率在不同侵入水平下均显著高于陕西榆林和中沙一号的侵染率。根据病情严重度,各材料的抗病性评价结果为陕西榆林和中沙一号抗病性较强,内蒙早熟和宁夏彭阳抗病性较弱,其余材料介于中间。     

沙打旺黄矮根腐病菌钙调素基因的克隆

沙打旺埃里砖格孢(Embellisia astragali)引起的黄矮根腐病是造成沙打旺(Astragalus adsurgens)草地退化最严重的病害之一。钙调素是Ca2+介导的信号通路中重要的分子。本研究旨在从沙打旺埃里砖格孢中克隆钙调素编码基因序列。以基因组DNA为模板,采用简并引物CAL-228F和CAL-737R扩增得539bp的同源片段;采用Hi-TAIL PCR分别获得344bp的5′侧翼序列和729bp的3′侧翼序列,拼接获得基因的1 290bp的全长DNA序列;利用全长引物CaMF和CaMR,得到840bp的DNA全长序列和450bp的cDNA全长序列,DNA全长序列中有4个内含子,均具有典型的AT-AG特征,cDNA全长序列翻译出149氨基酸多肽。     

沙打旺黄矮根腐病的研究进展

沙打旺仅在我国作为牧草人工栽培,20世纪末期种植面积达6.7万hm²,此后因草地快速衰退而播种面积大幅度缩减。研究发现其早衰的主要因素是一种真菌病害,该病害就是首次在甘肃发现的沙打旺黄矮根腐病,目前已在甘肃、陕西、宁夏、云南、内蒙古等所有沙打旺栽培地区发现。枝条矮化、叶片黄化、根腐烂是主要症状,病菌为沙打旺埃里砖格孢(Embellisia astragali),其菌丝寄生于植株的所有组织体内,为系统性病害。为有效防控该病害,保护我国特有牧草,自该病发现后在病害和其病原菌特点、病菌的分子生物学、抗病品种筛选、药剂防治等方面进行了研究,本研究综述了自该病发现以来的研究成果,提出了该病害在植物病理学领域的意义以及后续应加强的研究方向。     

外源H2O2处理对燕麦种子活力的影响

试验以燕麦种子为材料,通过不同浓度H₂O₂(0,0.24,0.48,0.96,1.92和3.84 mol·L^-1)处理0(CK),3,6,9和12 h后,分析其发芽率(G_p),发芽指数(G_i),平均发芽时间(MGT)及幼苗活力指数(SVI)的变化,以探讨外源H₂O₂处理对种子活力的影响。结果表明,高浓度的H₂O₂处理降低了燕麦种子的G_p、G_i及SVI,且提高了其MGT。H₂O₂浓度、处理时间及两者之间的交互作用对燕麦种子G_p、G_i、MGT和SVI的影响差异极显著。浓度为3.84 mol·L^-1的H₂O₂处理12 h后,燕麦种子G_p、G_i和SVI最小,而其MGT则最大。这表明H₂O₂浓度越高,处理时间越长,燕麦种子活力的丧失就越严重。因此,高浓度H₂O₂处理造成的脂质过氧化损伤可能是导致种子活力丧失的主要原因,在农牧业生产中外源H₂O₂预处理的应用要谨慎。     

燕麦种胚细胞和线粒体AsA-GSH循环对外源H2O2引发的响应

本研究探讨了外源H₂O₂引发后，燕麦(Avena sativa)种胚细胞和线粒体抗坏血酸(Ascorbic acid, AsA)-谷胱甘肽(Glutathione, GSH)循环的抗氧化性能的变化规律，以期为植物种子的长期贮藏技术研究提供理论依据。试验以燕麦种子为材料，用浓度为0,0.96,1.92,3.84和7.68 mol·L^-1的H₂O₂引发12 h后，分析其种胚细胞和线粒体脂质过氧化水平、AsA-GSH循环中酶促和非酶促抗氧化物质的变化规律。结果表明：燕麦种胚细胞和线粒体内AsA和GSH含量会随外源H₂O₂浓度的增加而显著降低(P<0.05),其AsA-GSH循环的酶活性、脱氢抗坏血酸和氧化型谷胱甘肽含量均呈先升后降的趋势，其H₂O₂和丙二醛含量显著升高(P<0.05),燕麦种子发芽率则显著降低(P<0.05)。燕麦种胚细胞和线粒体AsA-GSH循环的抗氧化功能变化...     

外源H2O2引发对燕麦种胚线粒体AsA-GSH循环的影响

本试验为了探究外源H₂O₂引发对燕麦（Avena sativa）种胚线粒体抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽（Ascorbic acid-glutathione,AsA-GSH）循环的影响,设置浓度为0 mol·L^-1,0.96 mol·L^-1,1.92 mol·L^-1,3.84 mol·L^-1和7.68 mol·L^-1 H₂O₂引发燕麦种子0 h （CK）,6 h,12 h和18 h后,分析燕麦种胚线粒体AsA-GSH循环抗氧化酶活性及其脂质过氧化作用的变化规律。结果表明：外源H₂O₂引发导致了燕麦种胚线粒体H₂O₂及丙二醛含量的显著升高（P<0.05）,其H₂O₂的清除则由其线粒体AsA-GSH循环来发挥主要作用,但其抗氧化能力的变化与外源H₂O₂引发的浓度和时间密切相关,低浓度（<0.96 mol·L^-1）外源H₂O₂引发时间越短对燕麦种胚线粒体AsA-GSH循环抗氧化酶活性的促进效果就越小,而引发时间越长则其促进效果就越大;相反,高浓度（>3.84 mol·L^-1）外源H₂O₂引发时间越短则对其抗氧化酶活性的抑制作用就越弱,而引发时间越长则其抑制作用就越强。因此,利用外源H₂O₂对燕麦种子进行引发时,H₂O₂浓度应低于1.92 mol·L^-1、引发时间应少于12 h。     

镉胁迫下裸燕麦幼苗对外源H2O2的生理响应

镉(Cd)是生物毒性最强的污染物之一,为探讨外源信号分子H₂O₂对Cd胁迫下裸燕麦生理响应的调节作用,采用珍珠岩栽培,以裸燕麦品种“定莜6号”为材料。试验设4个处理:1) 叶面喷施蒸馏水,根部浇灌营养液(对照);2) 叶面喷施5 mmol·L^-1 H₂O₂溶液,根部浇灌营养液;3) 叶面喷施蒸馏水,根部浇灌含有50 mg·L^-1 Cd²⁺的营养液;4) 叶面喷施5 mmol·L^-1 H₂O₂溶液,根部浇灌含有50 mg·L^-1 Cd²⁺的营养液。研究外源H₂O₂对Cd胁迫下裸燕麦幼苗生长、活性氧代谢、光合参数和碳同化关键酶活性的影响。结果表明:喷施H₂O₂显著缓解了Cd胁迫下裸燕麦幼苗根长、株高、鲜重和干重的下降程度,降低了Cd胁迫下裸燕麦幼苗叶片中超氧阴离子、H₂O₂、丙二醛和抗坏血酸含量及过氧化氢酶活性,提高了超氧化物歧化酶和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性及谷胱甘肽、类黄酮、总酚和原花青素含量,而对过氧化物酶活性的影响不大。另外,喷施H₂O₂对Cd胁迫下裸燕麦叶片中叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量及叶绿素a/b、气孔导度和蒸腾速率无显著影响,但提高了类胡萝卜素含量、净光合速率及核酮糖1, 5-二磷酸羧化酶、景天庚酮糖1, 7-二磷酸酯酶和果糖1, 6-二磷酸醛缩酶和转酮醇酶活性,降低了胞间CO₂浓度。上述结果表明,外源H₂O₂能够通过调控活性氧清除系统降低Cd胁迫诱导的氧化损伤,并提高碳同化关键酶活性,减轻Cd胁迫对光合作用的抑制,从而缓解Cd对裸燕麦幼苗生长的抑制,增强裸燕麦对Cd胁迫的耐性。     

信号分子H2O2调节抗氧化系统提高高羊茅耐热性研究

采用盆栽试验,利用10 mmol/L的H₂O₂对冷季型草坪草高羊茅进行叶面喷施处理,研究外源低浓度H₂O₂对高羊茅叶片中抗氧化系统的调控作用及其对高羊茅抗热性的影响。结果表明,H₂O₂可能作为信号分子预先增加抗氧化酶的活性,改变抗氧化剂的浓度,从而减轻随后发生的热胁迫对草坪草造成的氧化伤害;在胁迫过程中POD和CAT活性在H₂O₂预处理后增加不显著,热胁迫本身增加了POD的活性,但是降低了CAT活性,POD对于提高高羊茅的耐热性可能具有更重要的作用;外源H₂O₂显著影响了高羊茅叶片中的AsA-GSH循环,其中处理植株中的APX、GPX和GR的活性在热胁迫过程中增加20%～110%,GSH/GSSG下降了80%,与高羊茅抗热性的提高密切相关。可见信号分子H₂O₂可以通过调控高羊茅的抗氧化系统提高其抗热性。     

过氧化氢提高燕麦幼苗耐碱性的活性氧代谢和渗透调节

为探明过氧化氢(H₂O₂)提高燕麦耐碱性的作用,以‘定莜6号’幼苗为材料,采用珍珠岩栽培方法,在幼苗三叶一心期根部浇灌75 mmol·L^-1 NaHCO₃或添加二甲基硫脲(DMTU,H₂O₂淬灭剂)或抗坏血酸(ASA,H₂O₂清除剂)模拟碱胁迫,通过叶面喷施0.01 mmol·L^-1 H₂O₂来观测H₂O₂对碱胁迫下幼苗生长、活性氧代谢和渗透溶质积累的影响。结果表明:喷施H₂O₂ 能够缓解NaHCO₃胁迫对燕麦幼苗生长的抑制,降低幼苗叶片O2·-、H₂O₂和丙二醛含量,提高超氧化物歧化酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶等抗氧化酶活性和非酶抗氧化剂抗坏血酸、谷胱甘肽含量;使过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶活性及渗透溶质可溶性糖、游离氨基酸和脯氨酸含量显著降低,有机酸和叶绿素含量明显提高,而可溶性蛋白质含量则变化不大;添加DMTU和ASA后有效逆转了喷施H₂O₂对NaHCO₃胁迫燕麦生长受抑和生理响应的调节。采用主成分和隶属函数分析显示,喷施H₂O₂显著提高了NaHCO₃胁迫下燕麦幼苗的综合评价值,添加DMTU和ASA完全或部分逆转了H₂O₂的作用。因此,外源H₂O₂是通过调控活性氧代谢和渗透调节来缓解碱胁迫导致的氧化伤害和生长抑制,从而增强燕麦幼苗的耐碱性。     

外源H2O2引发对燕麦种胚细胞AsA-GSH循环的影响

为了探究外源H₂O₂引发对燕麦(Avena sativa)种胚细胞AsA-GSH循环抗氧化性能的影响，本试验以燕麦种子为研究对象，用不同浓度(0，0.96，1.92，3.84和7.68 mol·L^-1)的H₂O₂引发燕麦种子0(CK)，6，12和18 h，分析其种胚细胞抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(Ascorbic acid-glutathione，AsA-GSH)循环抗氧化酶活性、脂质过氧化水平的变化规律，结果表明：外源H₂O₂引发浓度和时间对燕麦种胚细胞的抗氧化能力有密切影响，导致其H₂O₂和丙二醛含量显著增加(P<0.05)，且浓度越高或引发时间越长则增加越多，而其AsA-GSH循环的抗氧化能力在低浓度(0.96 mol·L^-1)或短时间(6 h)引发时被提高，而在高浓度(3.84~7.68 mol·L^-1)或长时间(12~18 h)则会被减弱。抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶是外源H₂O₂引发燕麦种胚细胞内维持H₂O₂平衡所依赖的关键酶。     

紫花苜蓿不同品种对拟枝孢镰刀菌的抗性评价

在温室盆栽30个紫花苜蓿品种45 d后,将拟枝孢镰刀菌接种于幼苗根部土壤中,10 d根据根部病情指数评定抗病性,筛选抗性后选择抗病和感病品种再次接种,于4,8和12 h时测定与抗性相关酶的活性。结果表明,不同品种间抗性差异显著,其中耐病品种为晋南苜蓿、驯鹿、PG塞特、苏联二号4 个,占测定品种总数的13.3%;高感品种为新疆大叶、中苜一号、陇中苜蓿、北疆苜蓿、皇冠、甘肃苜蓿和萨兰斯7个,占23.3%;其余的均为感病品种,占63.4%;未发现抗病和免疫品种。酶活性变化测定表明,对于接菌与未接菌的供试耐病和高感苜蓿品种,不同品种间CAT、SOD、PAL的活性存在一定差异;总体接菌植株的酶活性高于对照,且耐病品种的酶活性高于感病品种,酶活性在接菌后4~8 d呈上升趋势,8~12 d呈下降趋势;接菌植株CAT活性较对照增幅明显,SOD、PAL活性较其对照增幅不明显。     

AsA-GSH循环参与2,3-丁二醇、2R,3R-丁二醇诱导后匍匐翦股颖的抗病反应

用250 μmol/L的2,3-丁二醇(2,3-BD)与100 μmol/L的2R,3R-丁二醇(2R,3R-BD)注射至匍匐翦股颖根部后接种立枯丝核菌,诱导匍匐翦股颖对褐斑病的抗性。测定两诱导剂处理对立枯丝核菌发病率的影响,分析诱导后匍匐翦股颖叶片抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环中关键酶活性及氧化还原水平变化情况,确定2,3-BD与2R,3R-BD在诱导匍匐翦股颖抗病性过程中,抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环的变化及其与抗病性的相关性。结果表明,2,3-BD与2R,3R-BD处理匍匐翦股颖后明显降低接菌后的病叶率,同时叶片抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性增幅低于对照,谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性提高,还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)含量呈前期减少后期增加趋势,脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)含量在第1,9天出现两次高峰,与对照相比显著提高,且两处理的AsA/DHA在第5天达到最大值,分别为对照的5.0,3.4倍,还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量显著提高,并且两处理的GSH与氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)比值在第9天达到最大值,分别为对照的2.34,1.66倍。2,3-BD与2R,3R-BD诱导匍匐翦股颖抗褐斑病的过程中,抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环维持较高效率参与植物抗病反应。     

Effect of tea catechins on regulation of cell proliferation and antioxidant enzyme expression in H2O2‐induced primary hepatocytes of goat in vitro

Tea catechins (TC) are polyphenols that have potent antioxidant activity. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of TC on antioxidant status of hepatocytes challenged with H₂O₂. Primary hepatocytes of goat were exposed to 1 mm H₂O₂ without or with 5, 50 and 500 μg/ml TC. The cells were harvested at 48 h post‐treatment to determine effects of TC on proliferation, apoptotic features and membrane integrity of cells, and expression of genes and activities of antioxidant enzymes. H₂O₂ exposure caused damage to cells (p < 0.001). A lower concentration of TC (5 μg/ml) displayed a protective effect by inhibiting exorbitant cell proliferation and DNA degradation. Both H₂O₂ exposure and TC pre‐incubation affected expression of antioxidant enzymes at mRNA and protein levels (p < 0.001). The activities of catalase (CAT) (p = 0.027), CuZn‐superoxide dismutase (CuZn‐SOD) (p < 0.001) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (p < 0.001) increased with TC pre‐incubation followed by H₂O₂ challenge. Changes of CuZn‐SOD activity induced by H₂O₂ and TC basically paralleled the changes in the corresponding mRNA and protein levels, but the correlation in CAT and GPx expression displayed slightly different patterns at different concentrations of TC. These findings infer that oxidative stress can induce deleterious cellular responses and this unfavourable condition may be alleviated by treatment with TC.     

苜蓿褐斑病抗性与几种同工酶的关系

以苜蓿5个品种在褐斑病抗性上存在差异的抗、感单株为材料，研究了接种病菌后苜蓿褐斑病抗性与多酚氧化酶(PPO)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)及其酶活性的关系。研究结果表明，褐斑病侵染后，苜蓿抗病株系和感病株系叶片中PPO、POD和SOD同工酶谱带多少和强弱存在明显的差异，即大部分抗病株系PPO、POD和SOD酶活性高于感病株系，并有新的同工酶带出现。PPO、POD和SOD在苜蓿抗褐斑病上可能起到重要作用，其同工酶谱带和酶活性的差异有可能做为鉴定苜蓿抗褐斑病的一种同工酶标记。     

苜蓿对白粉病的抗性与叶绿素含量的关系

在人工接种白粉菌Erysiphe polygoni 条件下,测定了8种不同抗病性的苜蓿Medicago sativa品种叶片中的叶绿素含量,结果表明,不同抗病性的苜蓿品种间叶绿素含量差异不显著,接种白粉病菌后品种间的叶绿素含量有显著变化,感病品种叶绿素含量下降的幅度明显大于抗病品种,接菌后第27天,感病品种叶绿素含量平均下降38.26%,抗病品种的叶绿素含量下降13.6%.其叶绿素含量随发病程度的增加而显著降低.     

Susceptibility of day-old chicks and ducklings,goslings and quaiis to pigeon herpes encephalomyelitis and pigeon herpesviruses

Day-old chicks were susceptible to pigeon herpes encephalomyelitis virus (PHEV) by intracerebral (i/c) inoculation. Infected birds developed neurologic signs starting from 2 to 15 days post-infection, and 85% died. The virus was recovered from the brains of diseased chicks in titers ranging between 104 and 105.5 EID₅₀/0.2 ml. Inoculated birds shed the virus in their droppings throughout the 2 weeks observation period. Day-old chicks given the virus by the intranasal (i/n) or oral routes did not develop any specific signs but shed the virus also in their droppings throughout the observation period. Ducklings and goslings inoculated intravenously (i/v), i/n or orally were resistant. Day-old chicks and ducklings, goslings and quails inoculated by different routes with pigeon herpesvirus (PHV) did not show respiratory or nervous signs.     

Periplaneta americana peptide decreases apoptosis of pig-ovary granulosa cells induced by H2O2 through FoxO1

Oxidative stress can induce apoptosis of granulosa cells and lead to follicular atresia, thereby reducing the number of pigs giving birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Periplaneta americana peptide (PAP) on the apoptosis of the granulosa cells of pig ovaries (PGCs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via FoxO1. PGCs were treated with H₂O₂ to establish a cell apoptosis model. Cell viability was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and nitric oxide (NO) content were detected to reflect the oxidative stress. Western blotting, qRT-PCR and overexpression were undertaken to determine the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3, and immunofluorescence was used to detect FoxO1 in the nucleus and cytoplasm. PGCs were treated with 100 μM H₂O₂ for 6 hr, which resulted in oxidative damage and apoptosis and an apoptosis rate for PGCs of 32.95%. Next, PGCs were treated with 400 μg/ml PAP for 24 hr to repair the apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. PAP improved cell viability in H₂O₂-stimulated PGCs, the increased MDA level and NO content caused by H₂O₂ stimulation were reversed and the apoptotic rate of PGCs was reduced. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting results indicated that PAP decreased the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3 in PGCs. The effect of PAP was the same following FoxO1 overexpression. FoxO1 was expressed in the nucleus when stimulated by H₂O₂ or overexpression; however, it migrated to the cytoplasm following PAP treatment. PAP decreased the apoptosis of PGCs induced by H₂O₂ by regulating FoxO1 expression and nuclear translocation.     

Sows Intramammarily Inoculated with Escherichia coli: Influence of Time of Infection,Hormone Concentrations and Leucocyte Numbers on Development of Disease

The aim of this study was to identify factors that influence the development of disease in sows inoculated with Escherichia coli in the mammary gland. Ten cross‐bred primiparous sows were intramammarily inoculated with living E. coli bacteria at different time points before parturition: seven sows within 48 h before parturition and three sows approximately 96 h before parturition. Before and after inoculation, blood samples and mammary gland biopsy specimens were collected and clinical observations were made. All seven sows inoculated close to parturition developed a rectal temperature of >39.5°C during the first 48 h post‐partum and two of them also showed other signs of clinical disease. In the sows inoculated 4 days before parturition, the rectal temperature never exceeded 39.5°C during the first 48 h post‐partum and none of them showed any other sign of clinical disease. There was a tendency (P < 0.1) that histological signs of mastitis were more frequent in the sows inoculated close to parturition. There were no overall differences between the two groups of sows in plasma concentrations of cortisol, oestradiol‐17β and 15‐ketodihydro‐PGF_2α before inoculation. Before inoculation, the number of neutrophils in the blood was overall higher (P < 0.05) in the group of sows that were inoculated close to parturition. In comparison, the number of lymphocytes before inoculation had a tendency (P < 0.1) to be lower in that group. The data suggest that the time of infection of the mammary gland relative to parturition and the number of circulating neutrophils at the time of infection influence the development of clinical coliform mastitis in the sow.     

The Control of Reactive Oxygen Species Influences Porcine Oocyte In Vitro Maturation

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of varying intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels during oocyte in vitro maturation with enzymatic ROS production systems (xanthine + xanthine oxidase or xanthine + xanthine oxidase + catalase), scavenger systems (catalase or superoxide dismutase + catalase) or cysteine on porcine oocyte maturation. Oocyte ROS levels showed an increase when H₂O₂ or O₂?^‐ production systems were added to the culture medium (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the presence of ROS scavengers in the maturation medium did not modify oocyte ROS levels compared with the control after 48 h of maturation, but the addition of cysteine induced a decrease in oocyte ROS levels (p < 0.05). The ROS production systems used in this work did not modified the percentage of oocyte nuclear maturation, but increased the decondensation of sperm head (p < 0.05) and decreased the pronuclear formation (p < 0.05). In turn, the addition of O₂?^‐ and H₂O₂ scavenging systems during in vitro maturation did not modify the percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II nor the oocytes with decondensed sperm head or pronuclei after fertilization. However, both parameters increased in the presence of cysteine (p < 0.05). The exogenous generation of O₂?^‐ and H₂O₂ during oocyte in vitro maturation would not affect nuclear maturation or later sperm penetration, but most of the spermatozoa cannot progress to form the pronuclei after fusion with the oocyte. The decrease in endogenous ROS levels by the addition of cysteine would improve pronuclear formation after sperm penetration.     

Expression of cytokines and respiratory burst activity of milk cells in response to Azadirachta indica during bovine mastitis

The immuno therapeutic potential of hydro-methanolic extract of Azadirachta indica (A. indica) was studied during bovine clinical mastitis (CM). The somatic cell count (SCC), total bacterial count (TBC), milk differential leukocyte count (DLC), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), superoxide anion (O₂ ⁻) production and interleukin- 2 (IL-2) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) cytokines expression were studied before and after intramammary infusion of A. indica extract in diseased cows. The results revealed that A. indica treatment significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the SCC, TBC, milk neutrophil percent and significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced milk lymphocyte percent, H₂O₂ and O₂ ⁻ production by milk cells. The IL-2 and IFN-γ were expressed in normal healthy cows and diseased cows after A. indica treatment, whereas both the cytokines could not be expressed in cows treated with antibiotic and in untreated diseased cows. The results of the present study indicated anti inflammatory, antibacterial and immunomodulatory potential of the herb, these activities could be due to the presence of bioactive principle in the extract. This is a preliminary trial indicated beneficial effect of the herb against bovine mastitis it can be developed as an alternative therapy where the use of antibiotics is normally restricted.