Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Asparagus Racemosus Essential oil on Some Haemato-Biochemical Constituents and Oxidative Stress Indices of Gaddi Rams

This experiment was designed to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of Asparagus racemosus essential oil on some haemato-biochemical constituents and oxidative stress indices of Gaddi rams. Twenty-four male Gaddi rams with a mean body weight of 32.00 ± 1.8 kg and an average age of 7 months were used in a completely randomized design for a 60-day feeding period preceded by a 14-day quarantine period. Experimental treatments included: treatment 1 (control) – basal diet without essential oil; treatment 2 and treatment 3 – basal diet supplemented with 200 mg and 400 mg Asparagus racemosus essential oil per kg DM feed daily. Fresh water was supplied ad libitum and all other management practices were strictly observed. Results obtained revealed that Asparagus racemosus essential oil contained several bioactive compounds with therapeutic properties. Asparagus racemosus essential oil supplementation enhanced the level of pack cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, lymphocytes, eosinophils and monocytes (p˂0.05). The serum levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride and bicarbonate concentrations (p˂0.05). Conversely, concentrations of creatinine, urea, alanine amino transferase and aspartate transaminase were not affected (p˃0.05). Asparagus racemosus essential oil supplementation decreased malondialdehyde concentrations in the blood and increased the levels (P < 0.05) of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. It was concluded that Asparagus racemosus essential oil dietary supplementation up to 400 mg per kg DM feed did not pose any negative effect on the health status of animals.