Immunomodulatory Potential of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract on Immune Responses in Broiler Chickens Following Vaccination against Infectious Bursal Disease Virus

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is a viral infection that suppresses the immune systems of broiler chickens, making vaccination less effective and causing significant losses in poultry production. Researchers in this study tested whether extracts from Moringa oleifera seeds could boost the immune response of broiler chickens after they received a standard IBD vaccine. The idea is that certain plant compounds can act as immunomodulators — substances that help tune or strengthen the body's immune activity without being vaccines themselves. The study divided birds into five groups, each receiving different concentrations and types of moringa seed extract (either dissolved in methanol or water) alongside vaccination, with one group receiving no extract as a control. Blood was drawn four times over the course of the trial to measure antibody levels using ELISA, a standard laboratory test for detecting immune proteins. The group receiving the highest dose of methanolic extract — 400 mg per litre — maintained notably higher antibody titres than the control group throughout the sampling period, suggesting the extract helped the immune response last longer. Aqueous extracts at both doses performed less impressively, pointing to the solvent used in extraction as an important factor in preserving active compounds. Tissue examination of the intestine and the bursa of Fabricius (a primary immune organ unique to birds) showed greater lymphocyte density in the high-dose methanolic group, indicating activity in both gut-associated and central immune tissues. The findings suggest that methanolic moringa seed extract could be a practical, plant-based tool for improving IBD vaccine outcomes in commercial poultry farming.