EFFECT OF FLUTED PUMPKIN (TELFAIRIA OCCIDENTALIS) LEAF EXTRACT ON SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF RABBIT BUCKS

Abstract

A 12- week study involving 20 grower rabbit bucks was carried out in a completely randomized design to evaluate the serum biochemistry of rabbit bucks fed fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) leaf extract (FPLE). The rabbit bucks were allotted to 4 Treatments containing 0mL of FPLE/L of drinking water (Treatment 1), 50mL of FPLE/litre of drinking water (Treatment 2), 100mL of FPLE/L of drinking water (Treatment 3) and 150mL of FPLE/L of drinking water (Treatment 4). Each treatment was replicated 5 times. The same concentrate diet was fed to the rabbits in all the treatment groups. At the end of the feeding trial, 3 rabbits per Treatment were slaughtered in the most humane way and blood was collected at slaughter for serum biochemical analysis. The serum biochemical parameters measured were, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
Data derived from the study was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for completely randomized design (CRD) and where significant differences occurred, means were separated using the Duncan Multiple Range Test. The result showed that, urea, creatinine, ALT, glucose, total protein, globulin, albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL were not affected (P>0.05) by FPLE while AST, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were influenced (P<0.05) by FPLE.