Consequences of dietary cinnamon and ginger oils supplementation on blood biochemical parameters, oxidative status, and tissue histomorphology of growing Japanese quails

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of various concentrations of ginger and cinnamon oils as antibiotic substitutes on some blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant capacity, and histopathological profile of the liver and gut of growing Japanese. A total of 900 Japanese quails were randomly allotted into 6 treatment groups. Each group had 5 replicates (30 chicks each). The first group received a basal diet and served as the control, while the second received a basal diet plus 0.5 g of colistin antibiotic/kg diet. The third and fourth groups were supplemented with 0.5 mL and 1.0 mL of ginger oil (GO)/kg diet, respectively. While the fifth and sixth groups received basal diet with 0.5 and 1.0 mL of cinnamon oil (CO)/kg diet, respectively. Results showed that adding herbal oils significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and urea levels compared to control and colistin groups. Various levels of GO and CO significantly (P < 0.05) reduced cholesterol levels compared to control birds. Compared to the control and antibiotic groups, Japanese quails supplemented with various levels of herbal oils (GO and CO) had more extraordinarily significant (P < 0.05) values for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GSR). Regarding histopathologic examination, the jejunum displayed a nearly empty lumen, a few fusions, and mild goblet cell metaplasia. On the other hand, the duodenum looked tall and had a few fusions of villi and remnants of removal in its lumina. It could be concluded that cinnamon and GO improved birds' blood biochemical parameters, electorate oxidative stress, and enhanced intestinal and hepatic histology of the treated quails. Also, the levels of 0.5 mL CO and 0.5 mL GO may be an acceptable substitute for antibiotics (colistin) in the diets of growing Japanese quail.

Keywords: blood chemistry; cinnamon; ginger; histopathology; quails.

Figure 1

Representative photomicrograph of the quail liver of (A) negative control, (B) 0.5 g colistin antibiotic, (C) 0.5 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (D) 1 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (E) 0.5 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet, and (F) 1 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet (H&E stain; X100 except for B) showing: (A) normal vasculature, hepatic parenchyma and hepatic cords (star). (B) Focal interstitial infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells (arrow, X400). (C) Diffuse fatty infiltration (star) and focal interstitial lymphocytic aggregation (arrow). (D) Nearly normal hepatocytes with multifocal lymphocytic aggregation (arrow). (E) Diffuse centrilobular fatty infiltration (star). (F) Centro-lobular fatty changes (stars) beside minute inflammatory cell infiltration (arrow).

Figure 2

Representative photomicrograph of the quail duodenum of (A) negative control, (B) 0.5 g colistin antibiotic, (C) 0.5 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (D) 1 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (E) 0.5 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet, and (F) 1 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet (H&E stain; X100) showing: (A) normal leaf-like intestinal villi with free lumen (star). (B) Short fused intestinal villi (2-sided arrow), with necrotic epithelium (stars) and necrotic tips (arrow). (C) Apparently long villi with few fusions and desquamated epithelium in the lumen. (D) Apparently long and a slight fusion (star). (E) Apparently long villi with free lumen. (F) Marked villi fusion (stars) and necrosis of its tips.

Figure 3

Representative photomicrograph of the quail jejunum of (A) negative control, (B) 0.5 g colistin antibiotic, (C) 0.5 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (D) 1 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (E) 0.5 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet, and (F) 1 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet (H&E stain; X100) showing: (A) normal finger like intestinal villi (arrow) with numerous goblet cells (arrowheads). (B) Denuded villus tips (arrow) with desquamated parts in the lumen (star). (C) Slightly goblet cell metaplasia (arrow), a few fusions (star) with nearly free lumen. (D) Apparently long and thin villi with mild denuded villus tips (arrow). (E) Apparently long and free lumen. (F) Apparently long villi without fusion or denudation.

Figure 4

Representative photomicrograph of the quail ileum of (A) negative control, (B) 0.5 g colistin antibiotic, (C) 0.5 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (D) 1 mL ginger oil/kg diet, (E) 0.5 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet, and (F) 1 mL cinnamon oil/kg diet (H&E stain; x100) showing: (A) normal intestinal villi with plenty of goblet cells. (B) Short and thick intestinal villi (2-sided arrow). (C and D) Apparently normal villi. (E) Free lumen, healthy villi without denudation or desquamation. (F) Great GALF hyperplasia (star).