ASSESSMENT OF LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTION PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKENS PLACED ON Justicia carnae LEAF AND GINGER RHIZOME AQUEOUS EXTRACTS

ABSTRACT

Eight weeks study was conducted using 96 broiler chickens at the University of Benin Experimental and Research Farm, Benin City; Edo state. At fifth week of age, the chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments of two replicates in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The chicks were housed in a deep litter pen with only one central control without receiving the test extracts The Justicia carnae leaf and Ginger (Zingiber officinale) were prepared every four days and stored in the fridge to maintain its freshness, and administered to T2, T3 and T4 at the assigned weekly dose regimen per treatment. At the end of eight week of the experiment, blood samples were randomly collected from two birds each per replicate to carry out liver, and kidney function tests. The results indicated that birds receiving the mixtures of these plants extracts showed decreased significant differences (p<0.05) in glucose level; while the rest of the parameters (ALP,ALT, AST, Creatinine, Urea and Bilirubin) were statistically comparable to those in the control group. The lower glucose levels in the plants extract administered groups may indicate improved insulin sensitivity or glucose metabolism. The findings of this research conclude that the inclusion of Justicia carnae leaf and Ginger rhizome aqueous extracts has no detrimental effects on the normal physiological functions of the liver and kidney of the birds. Hence, its recommended for use in broiler production in the tropic.