Effect of Dietary Incorporation of Curcuma longa Powder on Haematology and Serological Properties of Guinea Pigs ( Cavia porcellus)

Abstract

The reduced efficiency of antibiotic growth promoters in livestock, and the unavoidable residual effects on livestock products such as egg, meat and milk have pushed researchers to rush towards the use of phytobiotics in animal feed. This study was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the University of Dschang to evaluate the Effect of Curcuma longa powder as feed additive on hemato-serological parameters in Guinea pigs. A total of 120 three weeks old Guinea pigs (60 males and 60 females), with an average weight of 150 ± 20 g were used. The animals were randomly distributed into four treatments in a completely randomized design with 30 animals per treatment (15 males and 15 females). Four experimental treatments were used by adding 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% C. longa in the diet corresponding to R0, R0.25%, R0.5% and R1% respectively. At the 8th week of age, 12 Guinea pigs (6 males and 6 females) per treatment were fasted for 12 hours and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood was rapidly collected from the jugular vein for the evaluation of haematological and biochemical parameters. Results revealed that the inclusion of Curcuma longa at 0.25% significantly (p < 0.05) increased the concentration of hematocrit, lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and platelets. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) was observed in hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, serum lipids, globulin, AST, ALT, and urea. It was concluded that the use of Curcuma longa powder at 0.25% as feed additive positively regulates blood serum parameters of Guinea pigs.