Posts tagged “Amla”

Emblica officinalis or Amla is extensively cultivated all over India. Potent with the quality of re-vitalisation, the fruits of the plant are used in Ayurveda as an anti-stress agent.

Further, the phyto-chemical analysis of Amla fruit powder reveals the presence of medicinally important bioactive compounds which can be extensively used to improve productivity in broilers.

Amla fruit is one of the richest sources of ascorbic acid, minerals, amino acids, tannins, and phenolic compounds like gallic and tannic acids. These compounds serve as the growth promoters in broiler chickens.

What are growth promoters?

Growth promoters are chemical and biological substances added to the diet with the aim to improve the growth, utilisation of nutrients and enhance the production and financial results in animal husbandry.

The positive effect of these growth promoters is expressed through better appetite, improved body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR), stimulation of the immune system and increased vitality, etc.

But, why these growth promoters are added to the chicken’s diet?

This is because of the ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in poultry. Herbal preparations are being tried as feed additives as an alternative to antibiotics to increase feed efficiency and growth rate in broiler chickens.

How Amla acts as a growth promoter in broiler chickens?

This research was carried out at Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Gujarat.

1351-day-old, unsexed broiler chicks (Ven-Cobb 400 strain) were purchased from a local hatchery, weighed, and randomly assigned to one of the three treatments with three replicates of 15 chicks based on a completely randomised design.

The three treatments were as follows –

• T₁: Basal diet as per BIS standards
• T₂: Basal diet supplemented with 0.4% of Emblica officinalisfruit powder
• T₃: Basal diet supplemented with 0.8% of Emblica officinalisfruit powder.

They raised broilers on deep litter housing system for 6 weeks. Feed and water were provided to them throughout the experiment as per their need.

Broilers were fed in three phases as per BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) specifications:

• Pre-starter (0-10 days)
• Starter (11-21 days)
• Finisher (22-42 days)

Chicks were individually weighed at weekly intervals along with their feed consumption and FCR (FCR=feed intake/weight gain). Mortality was recorded daily.

Based on the current market price of various particulars, the researchers calculated the feed cost-economics of broiler production in different treatment groups.

Results of the research

The average body weight of the birds at the end of 6^th week was higher in the groups T₂ and T₃ compared to the group T₁. In other words, the birds whose diet was supplemented with E. officinalis fruit powder at the rate of 0.4% and 0.8% had higher overall body weights at the end of 6^th week compared to un-supplemented group. They also had higher weekly body weight gain.

What can you conclude from the research?

The higher body weights observed in E. Officinalis supplemented groups can be attributed to the anabolic and antioxidant effect of ascorbic acid, gallic acid and tannic acids present in Amla.

The research results are further backed by various preclinical findings where an increase in the body weight of the birds fed with polyherbal feed premix containing Amla was observed.

The cost of the feed per kilogram of live weight production was similar among the treatment groups. However, the profit per bird was the highest in group T₂ followed by group T₃  and lowest in group T₁. The higher net profit per bird in E. Officinalis supplemented groups can be attributed to higher body weight compared to the un-supplemented group and similar feed intakes among all the treatment groups.

Though the research results indicate that dietary addition of E. officinalis (Amla) fruit powder at the rate of 0.4% and 0.8% had higher growth rate and net profit per bird in commercial broiler chickens i.e. it shows a positive response in the present study, but further tests need to be done at different supplemental levels and in different ration compositions to get the best results.

Reference: Patel AP, Bhagwat SR, Pawar MM, Prajapati KB, Chauhan HD, Makwana RB. Evaluation of Emblica officinalis fruit powder as a growth promoter in commercial broiler chickens. Vet World. 2016;9(2):207-10.

Related Article:

Importance Of Amla In Herbal Industry For Humans And Veterinary Supplement

Amla is an indispensable part of the Ayurvedic and Unani medicinal systems with amazing remedial qualities. That’s why it is also called “Amalaki”, “Dhartiphala”, “Divya”, “Amrut” or “AmritPhala” in Sanskrit, which literally means the “fruit of heaven”.

Nutritive value of Amla

The Amla fruit contains more than 80% of water. It is also a rich source of protein, carbohydrate, fiber, minerals, and gallic acid which is a potent polyphenol. The fruit contains nearly 20 times as much Vitamin C as orange juice. Amla is the most concentrated form of Vitamin C amongst the plant kingdom, and when the whole fruit is used rather than an active ingredient, the Vitamin C is easily assimilated by the human body. The Vitamin C in the Amla fruit is bound to tannins that protect it from being destroyed by heat or light.

The protein and ascorbic acid concentration in Amla are 3 times and 160 times that of an apple respectively. Besides, the fruit also contains higher concentration of most minerals and amino acids than apples. Amla fruit ash contains chromium, zinc and copper.

Benefits of Amla in Humans

• Enhances food absorption: The regular use of Amla berry strengthens the digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food. People who use it regularly notice that they enjoy the taste of their food better. Moreover, it can be taken by people without fear of creating excess stomach acid. It also improves the assimilation of iron in the body.
• Balances stomach acids: Though Amla improves digestion, it does not heat the body; Amla berry is suitable to relieve mild to moderate hyperacidity and other digestive problems.
• Fortifies the liver Amla berry supports and strengthens the liver functions helping it to eliminate toxins from the body.
• Nourishes the brain and mental functioning: Amla enhances the coordination amongst acquisition, retention, and recall. It sharpens the intellect and mental functioning, supports the nervous system, and strengthens the senses.
• Stabilizes the blood sugar
• Strengthens the heart muscles and causes a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
• Helps control the blood pressure.
• Fresh Amla fruit has a revitalizing effect on the body and helps in preserving the stamina in aged people.
• Amla is invaluable in the treatment of cough, tuberculosis, asthma and bronchitis.
• Eye tonic: Fresh Amla juice or Dried Amla capsules are a good supplement to improve near-sightedness, cataract and glaucoma.
• Promotes hair growth, prevents balding, and greying of hair.
• Amla is suitable to treat white spots on the nails, Vitamin C deficiency, irritability of the bladder, painful respiration, diarrhea and dysentery, haemorrhage, and as a vermifuge.
• It is a powerful anti-inflammatory herb, a wonderful antioxidant and a natural source of Vitamin C.
• Protects the body cells against free radical damage

Benefits of Amla in Animals

• It nourishes the body tissues and helps in cell regeneration process
• As a powerful antioxidant, it protects the body cells from free radical damage
• It strengthens the body’s immune system and provides resistance against many diseases, especially those of the respiratory system
• Helps to improve lean body mass in cats and dogs

Conclusion

Now days, research on Indian traditional medicinal plants has gained a new momentum. Though the other systems of medicine are effective, they usually come with a number of undesired effects that often lead to serious complications.

But herbal medicines alleviate all these problems as they are natural. Amla has an important position in Ayurveda and is a gift of nature to the mankind. Due to its strong antioxidant and biological properties, preventing innumerable health disorders, and a rich source of essential nutrients and highest amount of vitamin C, it can be used as a possible food additive or in nutraceuticals and biopharmaceutical industries.

Even though Amla has been used since ages for its various therapeutic effects, there is still an immense necessity to scientifically explore and evident its medicinal values at the molecular level with the help of the latest techniques.

Related Article:

Role Of Amla Fruit As A Growth Promoter In Commercial Broiler Chickens