Efficacy of Ginger on Male Reproductive Traits and Oxidative Stress Indices in White Pekin Ducks Intoxicated with Arsenic

Abstract

Arsenic (As) exerts adverse effects on reproduction and oxidative stress in monogastric animals. But in poultry birds this fact is not yet verified. Ginger has both androgenic and antioxidant property. Thus, in this experiment, the protective effect of ginger against As toxicity induced by sodium arsenite was investigated in White Pekin ducks. For this, 300 number of ducks were randomly allocated into 5 groups with 6 replicates (10 ducklings in each replicate). The control group (CON) was fed only basal diet along with normal water. The toxicity group (TOX) was fed sodium meta-arsenite @ 28 ppm in drinking water along with basal feed. Along with sodium meta-arsenite @ 28 ppm in drinking water, the dried ginger powder was fed in increasing doses @ 100, 300 and 1000 mg per kg basal feed in ameliorative groups LDG, MDG and HDG respectively. Duration of experiment was 6 months. The oxidative damage caused by As was restored by supplementation of ginger. Ginger also enhanced the antioxidant activities of testis tissue of birds by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROSs). Suppressed reproductive performance of male duck due to inorganic As toxicity were impaired by ginger through enhanced testicular size, semen volume, spermatozoa concentrations, live spermatozoa percentage and testosterone level. Histopathological examination of testis of As intoxicated birds showed significant changes which were restored by supplementation of ginger. In conclusion, adverse effects of As on reproductive performance of male duck was corrected by dried ginger supplementation.