OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKERS IN GONADAL TISSUES OF RABBITS SUPPLEMENTED WITH CRUDE EXTRACT OF BITTER KOLA (Garcinia kola) SEED IN WATER

Abstract

During a 32–week study, the oxidative stress markers in the gonadal tissues of rabbits supplemented with bitter kola seed crude extracts (BKSCE) in drinking water was investigated at the Rabbitry unit, Livestock Teaching and Research Farm, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. Fifty-four (54) nondescript rabbits (both sexes), aged 9–10 weeks were assigned randomly to 3 groups comprising 18 rabbits each that was replicated 6 times with 3 rabbits per replicate in a 2x3 factorial of a Completely Randomized Design. Fresh bitter kola seeds were processed and extracted by macerating 1500 g powder per 10 L water for 24 hours followed by sieving and cold storage until used. The stored extract was reconstituted at 0, 25 and 50% levels respectively and offered daily at a single dose (100 ml) in drinking water. Rabbits received accordingly the basal diet and 3 levels of the reconstituted extract. The oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GTPx; and malondialdehyde, MDA) in the gonads of 36 sacrificed rabbits (18 per sex) were determined accordingly using tissue assays. Data were subjected to General Linear Model using IBM SPSS version 21 with significance denoted at probability of P<0.05. BKSCE significantly (P<0.05) increased the testicular concentration of MDA thereby favouring lipid peroxidation while SOD, CAT and GTPx were not significant (P>0.05). Also, all the oxidative stress markers in the ovarian tissue were not influenced (P>0.05) by BKSCE. In conclusion, BKSCE most likely induced testicular lipid peroxidation of rabbits.