Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of phytobiotic (turmeric) supplementation on semen and blood characteristics of rabbits

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder supplemented diets on semen and blood characteristics of rabbits. A total of 27, 9-month-old New Zealand white male rabbits were assigned randomly into 3 groups with 3 replicates of 3 rabbits. Each group was assigned to one of the experimental diet containing turmeric powder at 0 (control), 2 and 4 g/kg feed for 84 days in a completely randomized design. Blood and semen samples for analysis were obtained from each replicate and data obtained analysed statistically. Results revealed that there are significant (p < 0.05) variation in feed conversion ratio (FCR) and daily weight gain (DWG) among the groups. Turmeric powder (TP) supplementation at 2 and 4 g/kg feed increased (p < 0.05) the number of abnormal sperm on both treatments when compared with the control. The concentrations of seminal potassium, sodium, chloride, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were increased (p < 0.05) by TP supplementation at 4 g/kg feed group. Seminal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was reduced (p < 0.05) by TP at 2 g/kg feed while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was reduced (p < 0.05) by TP in both treatment groups compared to control. Serum sodium value was significantly increased (p < 0.05) at 4 g/kg feed while AST level was reduced (p < 0.05) by TP supplementation at 2 g/kg feed compared to control. There was significant (p < 0.01) regression effect on serum chloride value of rabbits fed diets supplemented with turmeric powder. The results indicated that turmeric powder had mild contraceptive effect in male rabbits without deleterious effect on blood characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barfield JP, Yeung CH, Cooper TG (2005) Characterization of potassium channels involved in volume regulation of human spermatozoa. Mol Human Reprod 11:891–897

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheesbrough M (2000) District laboratory practice in tropical countries. Part 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Gundogan M (2006) Some reproductive parameters and seminal plasma constituents in relation to season in Akkaraman and Awassi Rams. Turkish J Vet Anim Sci 30:95–100

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hajirezaee S, Mojazi AB, Mirvaghefi AR (2009) Effect of stripping frequency on semen quality of endangered Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta Caspius. Amer J Anim Vet Sci 4:65–71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ikpeama A, Onwuka GI, Nwankwo C (2014) Nutritional composition of turmeric and its antimicrobial properties. Int J Sci and Eng Res 5:1085–1089

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni SK, Dhir A (2010) An overview of curcumin in neurological disorders. Indian J Pharm Sci 72:149–154

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Louay L (2014) Medicinal and pharmacological properties of turmeric (Curcuma longa): a review. Int J Pharm Biomed Sci 5:17–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Marin GJ, Mahan DC, Chung YK, Pate JL, Pope WF (1997) Effects of dietary selenium and vitamin E on boar performance and tissue responses, semen quality and subsequent fertilization rates in mature gilts. J Anim Sci 75:2994–3003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marti E, Marti JI, Muiño-Blanco T, Cebrián-Préz JA (2008) Effect of the cryopreservation process on the activity and immunolocalization of antioxidant enzymes in ram spermatozoa. J Androl 29:459–467

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Odoemelam VU, Nwaogu KO, Ukachukwu SN, Etuk EB, Etuk IF, Aladi NO, Ogbuewu IP (2013) Growth response, carcass quality and organoleptic assessment of broiler chickens fed Ocimum gratissimum L. supplemented diets. Int J Agric and Rural Dev 16:1521–1528

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogbuewu IP (2008) Physiological responses of rabbits to neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) leaf meal. MSc. Thesis, Federal University of Technology Owerri

  • Ogbuewu IP, Okoli IC, Iloeje MU (2009) Semen quality characteristics, reaction time, testis weight and seminiferous tubule diameter of buck rabbits fed neem leaf meal based diets. Iranian J Reprod Med 7:23–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogbuewu IP, Iwuji TC, Etuk IF, Ezeokeke CT, Okoli IC, Iloeje MU (2014) Responses of pubertal rabbits to dietary supplementation of ginger rhizome powder. Nig J Anim Prod 41:53–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Shankar A, Shankar A, Shankar A (2013) Ayurveda a boon for epileptics. J Homeop Ayurv Med 2:134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimura K, Waki H, Ohashi S (1976) Ion-exchanger colorimetry-I Microdetermination of chromium, iron, copper and cobalt in water. Talanta 6:449–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

    I. P. Ogbuewu & M. C. Okehi

  2. Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal College of Agriculture, P.M.B.7008, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

    P. C. Jiwuba

Authors
  1. I. P. Ogbuewu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. C. Okehi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. C. Jiwuba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. P. Ogbuewu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study followed the guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animal models of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ogbuewu, I.P., Okehi, M.C. & Jiwuba, P.C. Effect of phytobiotic (turmeric) supplementation on semen and blood characteristics of rabbits. Comp Clin Pathol 26, 817–822 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2452-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-017-2452-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation