Abstract

The global dairy industry incurs economic losses due to bovine mastitis, which leads to reduced milk production, spoiled milk, and increased treatment costs. The frequent and often indiscriminate use of antibiotics in routine mastitis management has exerted selective pressure favouring the emergence of resistant pathogens, notably Staphylococcus aureus, while concurrently raising public health concerns regarding the presence of violative drug residues in marketed milk. This review examines the reasons why antibiotics are avoided and how natural remedies might be used instead to prevent mastitis. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Rakta Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) have powerful antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Curcumin from turmeric reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) as well as mastitis pathogens. Both neem and rakta-chandan have shown activity against several multidrug-resistant strains, showing they are highly effective. The use of herbal supplements may decrease milk withdrawal periods, reduce the risk of AMR infections, and have positive environmental effects. Combining plant extracts with antibiotics may produce a synergistic effect, giving veterinarians a way to offer more effective treatment using smaller antibiotic doses. An important factor to take into account in oral herbal therapies in ruminants is bioavailability, which is extremely compromised by the rumen’s ability to degrade phytochemicals prior to absorption. In addition to mere excretion, studies have shown that herbs can also be used as bio-enhancers, to regulate drug-metabolizing enzymes and efflux pumps to enhance antibiotic systemic exposure and mammary gland penetration. It is a pharmacokinetic interaction which provides a concrete approach to the pharmacological potentiation of smaller and more effective doses of antibiotics. By applying One Health principles, dairy farmers should pay attention to cleanliness, animal care and herbal remedies to fight antimicrobial resistance and support the dairy sector’s on-going sustainability.

Key words: Antibiotics residues; Antimicrobial resistance; Bovine mastitis; Herbal remedies; Phytotherapy.