Safety Hepatic and Renal Concerns About Dietary Inclusion of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) roots in Male Japanese Quails (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

Japanese quails are an important source of animal protein. Several recent researches aimed to add natural supplements to the quails’ ration to enhance growth, food conversion, or reproductivity. However, the possible adverse effects are almost neglected. This study aims to highlight the effects of Ginger roots on the histological features and functional parameters of the liver and kidney in Japanese male quails. Birds were divided randomly into three equal experimental groups. The first group (control group) was fed a commercial basal mash ration, while the second and third groups were fed on the same ration mixed with 10 and 15 grams of ginger roots/Kg feed, respectively. Supplementation with both doses of Ginger resulted in histopathological abnormalities in the liver and kidney. However, the hepatic and renal cytological deteriorations were mild to a moderate degree. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine transaminase were significantly higher in the low Ginger group than in the high Ginger and control groups. Ginger at both doses induced a significant decrease in plasma total cholesterol and uric acid levels and a significant increase in plasma malondialdehyde in Japanese male quails. Despite the observed hepatic and renal histopathological alterations in the Ginger treated groups, they are not sufficient to cause hepatic and renal dysfunction based. In conclusion, using ginger supplementation in quail could be applied at these doses and duration of intervention, however, with caution because the liver and kidney are sensitive to ginger.

Keywords

• ginger
• japanese male quail
• physiology
• histopathology