Hematology and serum biochemistry of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits administered Panax ginseng extracts

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of growing New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits administered Panax ginseng extracts (PGEs). A total of 48 NZW growing male (M) and female (F) rabbits (24 each) were used and the experiment lasted for 28 days. It was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), made up of T1 (0.0 mg/ml of PGEs), T2 (200.0 mg/ml of PGEs), and T3 (400.0 mg/ml of PGEs) which was replicated thrice and sex served as the block. Packed cell volume (PCV) (34.03%), red blood cell (RBC) (5.52 × 106/μl), white blood cell (WBC) (7.60 × 103/μl), and heterophil (34.00%) counts of the growing male NZW rabbits were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in MT3 rabbits. PGEs positively affected mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of the male rabbits which recorded a significantly (P < 0.05) higher value in MT3 (400.0 mg/ml of PGEs), but negatively affected the female rabbits which recorded a significantly (P < 0.05) higher value in FT1 (0.0 mg/ml of PGEs). Total protein values were significantly (P < 0.05) different among the experimental rabbits, with the lowest value obtained from FT3 (4.58 g/dl) rabbits. Globulin values of the rabbits were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in MT3 and FT3 rabbits. Serum cholesterol of the experimental rabbits were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in PGE-treated rabbits (MT2, MT3, FT2, and FT3). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) values of the growing female NZW rabbits were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in PGE-treated female rabbits. The result of this study suggests improved PCV, RBC, and cellular immunity in growing male NZW rabbits. It also suggests that PGEs have an anti-cholesterolemic effect on both male and female growing NZW rabbits.