# Spleen Histopathological Evaluation of Broiler Chickens Challenged with Escherichia coli and Its Effect Towards the Combination of Javanese Cardamom and Turmeric Herbs

## TL;DR

This study shows that a combination of Javanese cardamom and turmeric can protect chickens' spleens from E. coli infection better than single herbs or antibiotics.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating the synergistic protective effect of Javanese cardamom and turmeric on poultry spleen health during E. coli infection.

## Key findings

- The herbal combination caused the least spleen damage in infected chickens.
- Javanese cardamom showed antibacterial activity, while turmeric reduced inflammation.
- The combination outperformed single herb or antibiotic treatments in preserving spleen structure.

## Abstract

Javanese cardamom and turmeric rhizome are Indonesian local herbs that contain antibacterial properties. As antibiotic resistance has become a growing concern, these herbs are commonly used as an alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections. The objective of this study is to determine whether the combination of herbs can protect the chickens’ immune organs from damage caused by the disease. Researchers collected and analyzed the spleen tissue slides from infected chickens treated by three methods: (i) using a herbal combination, (ii) a single herb, and (iii) an antibiotic. Findings show that the chickens treated with the herbal combination had the least severe spleen damage. The combination acted as an antibacterial and a protective agent, effectively preserving the spleen’s structure and showing promise as an alternative treatment.

Given the increasing global concern over antimicrobial resistance in poultry health, this study investigated the potential of Javanese cardamom essential oil (JCEO) and dried turmeric (DT) as alternative therapies for colibacillosis by evaluating their effects on the spleen organ. A total of 72 Cobb-strain day-old chickens were allocated into eight groups, which received different doses of JCEO (0.06 mL/kg BW and 0.1 mL/kg BW), DT (400 mg/kg feed) and ciprofloxacin. Infection was induced intraperitoneally (E. coli O78 strain, 106 CFU/mL/chicken) at 28 days, while the treatments were administered orally from day 7 to week 5. Histopathological evaluation was graded on a 1–5 scale based on the five primary lesion criteria. The herb combination groups had the lowest severity grade, characterized by compact lymphoid follicles and reduced vasculitis. The JCEO single-dose group, both in vitro and in vivo, reduced bacterial growth and had a mild vasculitis score, indicating its antibacterial activity. In contrast, the single treatment of DT and the antibiotic groups showed moderate spleen lesion damage. These findings suggest that JCEO acts bactericidally, while DT provides an anti-inflammatory effect, and both combinations work synergistically.