The Effect of Silybum marianum on Humeral Immune System and Numbers of Useful and Baneful Bacteria in Digestive Tract of Chickens

The aims of this study were investigate the effects of Silybum marianum seed on the intestinal microflora and immune system of broilers. Current research was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 4 replicates and 20 chicks in every replicate. Treatments included: basal diet without adding Silybum marianum seed powder, basal diet with 0.2% seeds of Silybum marianum, basal diet containing 0.4% of Silybum marianum and basal diet containing 0.6% Silybum marianum seed powder. To evaluate the efficiency of the immune system by injection of sheep red blood cells as antigen, immune response with haemagglutination method were measured and weight of immune organs such as spleen and bursa of fabricius were measured too. Also at the ages of 21 and 42, two groups of bacteria, Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus were counted. Total immunoglobulin of treatments 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%, were increased significantly compared to the control. IgY in receiving treatment 0.6% of Silybum marianum significantly increased in comparison with the control and 0.2 0% of Silybum marianum. IgM of all Silybum marianum treatments are also higher compared to the control. The results showed that the number of lactic acid bacteria in treatments 0.4 and 0.6% of Silybum marianum compared to the control at 21 days was significantly increased (P