EFFECT OF VARYING LEVELS OF Vernonia amygdalina LEAF MEAL ON LIPID PROFILE AND SERUM METABOLITES OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the effects of Vernonia amygdalina on some serum metabolites of broiler chicken in a 6-week feeding trial. A total no of 72, day old unsexed abor-acre broiler chicks were randomly distributed to 3 replicates of 6chicks in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Four starter diets and finisher diets were formulated to be D1, D2, D3 and D4 to contain V. amygdalina leaf meal at 0g/kg, 100g/kg, 200g/kg and 300g/kg dietary level, respectively and were fed ad-libitum. The serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, creatinine and total protein were determined at the end of the study. The serum level of cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the control group when compared to the treated groups. The diets with V. amygdalina at 100g/kg, 200g/kg and 300g/kg reduced the cholesterol level by 13.31%, 15.47% and 23.74%, respectively. There were significant (p<0.05) higher levels of triglyceride, glucose and low density lipoprotein in the control group. The percentage reduction in triglyceride levels was 8.74%, 25.5%, 30.20% and in glucose level was 19.78%, 20.96% and 23.48% for diet with V. amygdalina at 100g/kg, 200g/kg and 300g/kg, respectively. However, there was significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of high density lipoprotein in both diet 3 (200g/kg) and diet 4 (300g/kg). The levels of creatinine and total protein were significantly (p<0.05) lower in diets containing V. amygdalina leaf meal. The inclusion of V. amygdalina leaf meal reduced the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, low density lipoprotein. It further increased the levels of the high density lipoprotein numerically at all levels of inclusion. This study confirms the clinical importance of V. amygdalina which can reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and also useful in the enthnotherapy of diabetes mellitus.