**Author details**

and decreased (*P* < 0.0001) IL-8 and RANTES. In addition, results from gene expression analyses showed increased mRNA transcripts of cell surface receptors TLR2 and TLR4, and the cytokines IL-8, IL-10, IL-2 and INF-γ. Previous work by Asiamah et al. [54] also demonstrated that transcription of TLR2 and Frizzled receptor in goat blood is variably responsive to Sericea lespedeza. In summary, goats respond to plant extracts and may have an effect on the expression of innate immune markers. This may offer an avenue for the exploitation of plant-derived

Cowpea (*Vigna unguiculata,* L.Walp) is a highly nutritious legume plant used as human food and feed for animals. It has been utilized as a supplement feed to enhance feed intake and improve productivity in ruminants fed low-quality roughage diets [70, 71]. Cowpea also contains polyphenol compounds including phenol acids, flavonoids and tannins [72]. Polyphenolic extract of cowpea has been shown to have potential impact on ruminant health via antioxidant capacity [68], anti-inflammatory properties [34, 73] and modulating expression of genes associated with immunity and homeostasis [6, 43, 69]. Treatment with cowpea extract downregulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokine TNFα (fold change (FC; treatment/control) = −43.39), IL1α (FC = −6.19), ILβ (FC = −3.62) and IL8 (FC = −1.25). Also, CPE modulated the expression of

A study by Adjei-Fremah et al. [69] demonstrated the impact of cowpea forage grazing, particularly Mississippi Silver variety on growth, internal parasite burden, and markers of immunity in goats. Their study results showed a modulation in cytokines levels, TNF-α, IL-8, and IP10 decreased, whereas an increase in G-CSF, Rantes and IFNγ was observed. The total antioxidants in plasma also increased in the cowpea-grazed goats [34, 73]. Cowpea diet may therefore stimulate innate immune response in goats, and this will help the animals fight against infectious pathogens and diseases. The immunomodulatory potential of cowpea feed may be due to at least in part their polyphenols [68, 74, 75]. Phenolic compounds in animal feeds have antioxidant properties that prevent the damaging effect of free radicals and their

These studies provide an insight into the utility of cross-reactive regents to understand the molecular genetics and genome biology of the goat and importance of dietary modulators as avenues for immune modulation and maintenance of homeostasis in the goat. Treatment with probiotics, mushroom extracts, PAMPS and plant-derived PAMPS resulted in differential expression of genes related to TLR signaling and WNT signaling pathway. Greater insight is provided into goat molecular genetics and genome biology, conserved and novel genes and signaling pathways. Gene expression and modulation has implications for the design and development of innovative therapeutics. Novel goat-specific and conserved gene expression patterns have been identified and provide insight into the utility of genome analysis for the better definition of the mechanism of action of modulators of gene expression in the goat for

tannins to regulate inflammatory response and enhance goat innate response.

*IL10RA* (a receptor for IL10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine) and IL15 [73].

metabolic by-products [76] and stimulate an immune response in animals [75].

*3.4.6. Cowpea*

12 Goat Science

**4. Conclusion**

improved production and welfare.

Kingsley Ekwemalor, Sarah Adjei-Fremah, Emmanuel Asiamah and Mulumebet Worku\*

\*Address all correspondence to: worku@ncat.edu

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
