ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF BUCK SEMEN EXTENDED WITH NORMAL SALINE-WATER MELON FRUIT JUICE STORED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of normal saline-watermelon fruit juice in buck semen at room temperature over a period of time. Semen was collected from 17 WAD bucks aged 1-3 years old with an average body weight of 12.15±1.51kg, divided into 6 portions, which indicated the treatments. The treatment groups comprised 100% skimmed milk-glucose (T1) which served as negative control,100% normal saline (T2) which served as positive control, 95.00% NS + 5% WMFJ (T3), 90.00 % NS + 10 % WMFJ (T4), 85.00% NS + 15% WMFJ (T5) and 80.00 % NS + 20 % WMFJ (T6) in a Completely Randomized Design. Seminal plasma was separated from the ejaculate by centrifugation at 4000 rpm for 15 minutes; the treatments were then assessed for antioxidant activities at 2 hours interval using standard procedures. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance procedure of SAS and means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test of the same software. Results showed that total antioxidant capacity in T6 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments at 2 and 4 hours. At 6 hours, total antioxidant capacity in T5 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments. At 8 hours, total antioxidant capacity in T6 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments and at 10 hours, antioxidant capacity in T4 and T6 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments while T1 and T2 recorded the least value. At 0 hour, lipid peroxidation in T4, T5 and T6 were significantly (P<0.05) lower than T1, T2 and T3. At 2 and 4 hours, lipid peroxidation in T1 and T2 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than T3, T4, T5 and T6 and at 10 hours, lipid peroxidation in T1, T2 and T3 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments. At 0 and 2 hours, catalase activity in T5 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments. At 4 hours, catalase activity in T5 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments, although similar to T3 while T2 recorded the least value. At 6 hours, catalase activity in T3 was significantly (P<0.05) higher than other treatments. This suggest that incorporation of extender with watermelon fruit juice up to 20% increased total antioxidant capacity, enzyme activities and inhibited lipid peroxidation.