Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Polyherbal Formulation ( Bovituss ® ) as a Supportive Treatment in Respiratory Infections of Bovines

R infections are common in livestock and form a major cause of economic loss to dairy entrepreneurs. The conventional management of respiratory infections requires the use of antimicrobials, for inhibiting the causative agent, and anti-inflammatory drugs, for suppressing the inflammation of the respiratory tract, thereby preventing loss of pulmonary function (Kariyawasam et al., 2007). Herbs have been used in folk medicine since many years and the use of herbal products as a therapeutic tool has been on the rise. Several natural compounds derived from herbs are known to significantly affect cellular mechanisms and evidence of their beneficial effects in inflammatory pulmonary conditions has been increasing (Slader et al., 2006). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a polyherbal formulation, Bovituss® (M/s Ayurvet Ltd., India), as a supportive treatment in bovines suffering from respiratory infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS


INTRODUCTION
R espiratory infections are common in livestock and form a major cause of economic loss to dairy entrepreneurs.The conventional management of respiratory infections requires the use of antimicrobials, for inhibiting the causative agent, and anti-inflammatory drugs, for suppressing the inflammation of the respiratory tract, thereby preventing loss of pulmonary function (Kariyawasam et al., 2007).Herbs have been used in folk medicine since many years and the use of herbal products as a therapeutic tool has been on the rise.Several natural compounds derived from herbs are known to significantly affect cellular mechanisms and evidence of their beneficial effects in inflammatory pulmonary conditions has been increasing (Slader et al., 2006).The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a polyherbal formulation, Bovituss ® (M/s Ayurvet Ltd., India), as a supportive treatment in bovines suffering from respiratory infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The field trial was conducted in bovines suffering with respiratory tract infections during October to December, 2017, in the Dhatwal area of district Hamirpur and Nalagarh sub-division of district Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Forty-two cows and she-buffaloes, aging four to nine years and belonging to different lactation groups, were identified based on the clinical signs.The animals were randomly assigned to either of two treatment groups viz.Group 1, receiving standard parenteral therapy with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (different agents as per case and different doses as per body weight), and Group 2, additionally receiving 30 mL Bovituss ® orally twice daily for a period of five days.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The animals were examined on days 0, 3, and 5 of treatment and all the clinical signs were graded for calculating parameter-wise indices per group.Animal-wise grades are shown in Table 2.The cumulative results are summarized for comparison in Figures 1, 2,3 and 4. Individual parameters as well as aggregates of the average respiratory and clinical indices were compared on days 0, 3, and 5 to assess the efficacy of the polyherbal formulation.A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the severity of respiratory signs was observed in Group 2 as evident from the lower respiratory index.Comparison of individual clinical indices revealed improvement in only the feed intake of Group 2, while rectal temperature and demeanor of the animals remained almost unchanged.The aggregate clinical indices also revealed a significant improvement in Group 2 (Table 3).et al., 2014) properties; Ocimun sanctum having immunomodulatory (Mukherjee et al., 2005) and anti-inflammatory (Kothari and Sharma, 2012) properties; Hedychium spicatum showing bronchodilator, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity (Ghildiyal et al., 2012); and Glycyrrhiza glabra showing anti-tussive ( Jahan and Siddique, 2012), anti-inflammatory (Mirmala and Selvaraj, 2011), and anti-bacterial (Nitalikar et al., 2011) activity.

CONCLUSION
In the present study, forty-two cows and she-buffaloes suffering from respiratory infection were treated with a combination of parenteral antibiotic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with or without a polyherbal formulation, Bovituss ® , as a supportive treatment.A significant reduction in nasal discharge, coughing, crackles/ rales, and dyspnea was observed in animals supplemented with the polyherbal formulation.Albeit comparable clinical indices, the animals additionally receiving the polyherbal preparation showed lower respiratory index, indicating greater relief from respiratory distress than those receiving conventional therapy alone.

Figure 1 :
Figure 1: Frequency-distribution of animals according to grade of respiratory parameter.Values indicate the number of animals falling under a grade on the specified day of study.

Figure 2 :
Figure 2: Frequency-distribution of animals according to grade of clinical parameter.Values indicate the number of animals falling under a grade on the specified day of study.

Figure 3 :
Figure 3: Respiratory index.Mean ± S.E.values of daywise respiratory indices are shown for each group.Bovituss is a scientific blend of various herbs and the clinical action produced by it is due to the varied action of the constituent herbs which act synergistically for better and faster recovery in respiratory tract infection.The key herbs present are Adhatoda vasica having antitussive ( Ja-

Figure 4 :
Figure 4: Clinical index.Mean ± S.E.values of day-wise clinical indices are shown for each group.

Table 3 :
Overall Respiratory and Clinical Indices