Phyto-additive effects of baobab (Adansonia digitata l.) fruit pulp on physiological, reproductive and antioxidant indices of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Abstract

A 12-week experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of varying levels of Baobab Fruit Pulp (BFP) on the haematological andserum biochemical parameters, testicular morphometrics, reproductive hormones and antioxidantindices of male Japanese quails(Coturnix coturnix japonica). Eighty (80) male Japanese quails (4 weeks old) were used for the experiment. The quails were randomly allotted to five dietary treatmentsT1, T2, T3, T4 and T5of 16 birdseach with two replicates in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The control diet was taggedT1 and didnot contain BFP while T2, T3, T4 and T5 contained 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% BFP respectively. At the end of the 12thweek, blood sampleswerecollected for haematological, serum biochemical, reproductive hormones andoxidative stress indicesassays. The birds weresacrificed and testes were carefully dissected for testicular morphometrics (testes weight, lengthand volume). Data were analyzed using ANOVA at p<0.05.The quails’packed cell volume, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were all significantly (p<0.05) higherat0.8% BFP supplementation level than other levels.Aspartate aminotransferase, Alanine aminotransferase,Low density lipoprotein, High density lipoprotein and urea were also significantly (p<0.05) higher at 0.8% BFPthan other levels. Quails fed 0.2% BFP had significantly(p<0.05) larger mean testes volume than other treatments. Follicle stimulating hormone was significantly higher at 0.2and 0.4%BFPthan other treatments while glutathione was highest at 2% BFP. It was concluded that up to 0.8% BFP supplementation supported blood formation but could lead to liver and kidney damage. However, 0.2% supplementation showed the potential to enhance reproductive parameters and antioxidant indices of the male Japanese quail without adverse effect