WORLD JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

Takur et al. World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Volume 3, Issue 6, 902-908. Research Article ISSN 2278 4357

HERBAL ANTIDIARRHOEAL FORMULATION SALCOCHEK FOR

TREATMENT OF WEANING DIARRHOEA IN PIGLETS

KB Choudhury1, BC Debnath1, K Ravikanth2, *A Thakur2, S Maini2

1
College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (C. V. Sc & A. H). R.K. Nagar. West
Tripura
2
R & D Center, Ayurvet Ltd, HP, India.

ABSTRACT
Article Received on
30 March 2014, Diarrhoea or scours in piglets can be common at both the neonatal and
Revised on 26 April
2014, the post-weaning stage. A trial was conducted to evaluate efficacy of
Accepted on 11 May 2014
polyherbal antidiarrhoeal and gut function modulator Salcochek
(supplied by m/s Ayurvet Ltd. Baddi, HP, India) in reducing incidence
*Correspondence for Author
of post weaning diarrhoea and mortality rate in weaned piglets. A total
Dr. Ajay Thakur
R & D Center, Ayurvet Ltd,
of 25 White Yorkshire piglets irrespective of sex of approximately 1
HP, India month of age were included in the trial and were divided in 5 different
groups. Group T1 piglets were treated with Ciprofloxacin Tinidazole
tab @ 10mg/kg body wt., group T2 were treated with mixture of Salcocheck premix @
500 g/tonne of feed and Ciprofloxacin-Tinidazole tab @ 10mg/kg body wt., group T3 piglets
were treated with Salcochek@1kg/tonne of feed. Treatment was given in all the groups for 3-
5days depending upon severity of condition. Group T4 was positive control, comprising of
diarrhoeac piglets given no treatment, group T5 was negative control, comprising healthy
piglet without any history of diarrhoea. Parameters recorded were body weight gain (Kg),
mortality, colour and consistency of faeces, clinical observation of piglets, number and
duration of treatment. Significantly better results in term of clinical observations, recovery
rate, duration and number of treatment were obtained in groups T3 and T2 as compared to
group T1 and untreated group T4. No mortality was recorded in polyherbal treated groups
and negative control group as compared to 20% and 60 % mortality in group T1 and T4
respectively. The body weight gain was significantly high in Salcochek treated groups T2 and
T3 as compared to T1 and T4. From the results of the present study it can be concluded that
polyherbal formulation Salcochek is efficacious in prevention and treatment of post weaning
diarrhea in piglets along with improvement in growth of piglets.

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Key words: antidiarrhoeal, gut modulator, mortality, polyherbal, weaning.

INTRODUCTION
Diarrhoea or scours in piglets can be common at both the neonatal and the post-weaning
stage. It is a common cause of mortality in piglets and is often closely associated with poor
hygiene, inappropriate husbandry (e.g. early weaning), stressful environment and
inappropriate feeding factors. Weaning imposes tremendous stress on piglets and is
accompanied by marked changes in gastrointestinal physiology, microbiology and
immunology [1, 2] and thus their susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. Owing to these
changes, the period following weaning is characterized by a high incidence of intestinal
disturbances with diarrhoea and depression of growth performance in piglets. Post-weaning
diarrhoea is usually associated with proliferation of one or more strains of enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli (ETEC) in the gastrointestinal tract[3, 4].At weaning, pigs have to deal with
the abrupt interruption in the established social interaction with sow and littermates and the
stress of adapting to a new environment[5]. In addition, the piglet has to cope with the sudden
withdrawal of sow milk and adapt to less digestible, plant-based dry diets containing complex
protein and carbohydrate including various anti-nutritional factors [5, 6]. Hence, piglets have a
[1]
sharp reduction in feed intake immediately after weaning . Antibiotics and minerals,
especially ZnO and CuSO4, are often included in the diets for weaned pigs to control post-
[7]
weaning diarrhoea (PWD) and optimize growth performance . However, owing to the
possible contribution of in-feed antibiotics to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains
of bacteria [8], the European Union (EU) implemented a full ban on in-feed antibiotics usage
in livestock diets. There is also an ongoing interest to minimise or completely eliminate the
[9]
inclusion of in-feed antibiotic in livestock diets in other parts of the world . Based on the
EU experience, a ban on the usage of in-feed antibiotics is usually accompanied by serious
production consequences, such as an increase in weaning age and a reduction in the number
[10, 11]
of piglets weaned per sow per year . There are also concerns about environmental
accumulation of minerals resulting from high dietary levels of inorganic zinc and copper. To
keep the swine industry profitable, it is imperative to find alternatives/replacements to infeed
antibiotics and minerals that are effective in reducing the incidence and severity of digestive
problems associated with the period immediately after weaning. Therefore present study was
conducted to evaluate the efficacy of herbal formulation Salcochek in treatment of weaning
diarrhoea in piglets.

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MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present study was conducted in the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, RK
Nagar Tripura.

Twenty five growing piglets of approx. 1 month old of White Yorkshire breed were selected
for the experimental study. Out of which 20 numbers were diarrhoeac and rest 5 were healthy
piglets. These piglets were divided into five groups of 5 piglets each. Group T1 piglets were
treated with Ciprofloxacin -Tinidazole tab @ 10mg/kg body wt. for 3-5 days, group T2 were
treated with mixture of Salcocheck premix @ 500 g/tonne of feed (0.15g per piglet
considering average feed intake 300g per piglet) and Ciprofloxacin-Tinidazole tab @
10mg/kg body wt. for 3-5 days, group T3 piglets were treated with Salcochek@1kg/tonne of
feed (0.3g per piglet considering average feed intake 300g per piglet) for 3-5 days, group T4
was positive control, comprising of diarrhoeac piglets reported with the history of diarrhoea
tentatively diagnosed to be specific or bacterial origin on the basis of history or clinical signs
and were given no treatment, group T5 was negative control, comprising healthy piglet
without any history of diarrhoea. Water was provided adlibitum to all the animals.

Salcochek Premix is a polyherbal antidiarrhoeal and gut function modulator comprising of

pre standardized herbs like Aegle marmelos, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Berberis aristata
and many more in fixed concentration.

In order to evaluate the efficacy of Salcochek Premix for treatment of weaning diarrhoea in
piglets, clinical signs (Daily appetite, Colour and consistency of faeces, Normal appearance
of the animal) were observed along with duration of treatment, number of treatments and
time required for recovery. In addition to this mortality rate and average weekly body weight
gain was also recorded.

Statistical analysis
All the results were analyzed statistically by analysis of variance to determine the means and
standard error [12].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Post weaned diarrhoeac piglets were presented with the history of acute and chronic
diarrhoea. Weaners demonstrated ill-thrift, pasty to liquid yellow to brown faeces, loss of

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appetite etc. The clinical signs tentatively diagnose it to be a case of post weaning E.coli
diarrhoea.

Colour, consistency of faeces before and after treatment

The colour & consistency of faeces before the treatment was yellow/ brown pasty to liquid in
all the piglets suffering from diarrhoea. In recovered cases after treatment in group T1, T2
and T3, it was recorded to be off-white or brown semisolid to solid as compared to no
changes in the fecal consistency in positive control group T4.

Number and duration of treatment and recovery rate

The duration of treatment was only 3 days in treatment groups T2 and T3 treated with
Salcochek given in combination with antibiotic & alone respectively, as compared to 3-5
days in group T1 piglets treated with antibiotics alone. Number of treatments required for
recovery in group T1 & T3 treated with either Antibiotic or herbal antidiarrhoeal preparations
Salcochek alone varied from 3 to 5. However, only 3 treatments were required for recovery in
group T2 treated with co therapy of Antibiotic & polyherbal formulation Salcochek.
Similarly, the recovery rate was fastest in Salcochek treated groups T2 and T3 (3 days),
followed by T1 (4 days) as compared to no recovery in positive control group T4.

Mortality
In positive control group T4 comprising diarrhoeal & untreated weaned piglets, an overall
mortality of 60% was recorded. In contrast, no mortality was recorded in the healthy group
T5 and treatment groups T2 and T3 treated with Salcochek in combination with antibiotic &
alone, respectively as compared to 20% mortality in antibiotics treated piglets of group T1.

Table 2: Body weight gain in all the treatment groups at 4th week of treatment

Parameters T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
No. of treatments required 3-5 3 3-5 No treatment No treatment
for recovery (days)
Duration of treatment (days) 3-5 3 3 No treatment No treatment
Recovery of clinical signs 4 3 3 No recovery Healthy
(days)
Mortality % 20 0 0 60 0
Appearance of animal & Appetite
Appearance of animal was dull & appetite was poor before treatment However, it was
normalized after treatment in all the three groups (T1, T2 and T3) by day 5th -7th respectively

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as compared to diarrhoeal & untreated weaned piglets of group T4, where the condition
remained as it was before treatment.

Overall body weight gain

Overall body weight gain in all the groups after one month of treatment showed a positive
trend of weight gain (table 2). The body weight gain (Kg) was significantly highest (P0.05)
in negative control group T5 (1.68), followed by groups T3 (1.52) and T2 (1.4) treated with
Salcochek alone and in combination with antibiotics respectively as compared to antibiotic
treated group T1 (0.8). However, a reduction in the body weight was observed in positive
control group T4.

Table 2: Body weight gain in all the treatment groups at 4th week of treatment

Parameters Initial body weight (Kg) Final body weight (Kg) Body weight gain
Day 0 4th week (Kg)
a
T1 2.880.18 3.680.25b 0.8
T2 3.440.43a 4.840.38b 1.4
a
T3 2.960.36 4.480.22b 1.52
T4 40.16a 2.081.23b - 1.92
a
T5 3.020.14 4.70.2b 1.68
Values with different superscripts differ significantly at P0.05

DISCUSSION
Similar results in terms of growth and control of diarrhoea were obtained earlier also with
[13]
Salcochek in cases of collibacillosis in broiler chickens . Similarly, Vasanthakumar et al.
2012 also obtained beneficial effects of Salcochek on gut ecosystem and reducing the impact
of Clostridium Species induced enteritis in broiler birds [14]. Baishya et al. 2009 also obtained
similar results with Salcochek in terms of control of enteritis due to Salmonella enteritidis in
broiler birds [15].

These results may be attributed to the antibacterial, antidiarrhoeal, spasmolytic, astringent

and anthelmentic action of constituent herbs Aegle marmelos[16], Holarrhena
[17] [18]
antidysenterica Berberis aristata present in Salcochek. Simultaneously the herbs of
Salcochek has got soothing effect on intestine with formation of protective layer on intestinal
mucosa and flushing of the microbes from the gut.

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CONCLUSION
From the results of the present study it can be concluded that polyherbal antidiarrhoeal and
gut function modulator Salcochek Premix is efficacious in prevention of post weaning
diarrhoea in piglets along with improvement in general body condition and body weight gain
in during high stress in post weaning period in piglets.

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