174 Effect of Moringa oleifera leaf supplementation on serum biochemical profile and fresh and cooled semen characteristics in Magra rams

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of Moringa oleifera leaves on serum biochemical profile and fresh and cooled semen characteristics in rams. Magra rams (n = 14) aged 1.5–3 years, were divided into treatment and control groups. Rams in the treatment group received dietary supplementation of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (at 40 mg/kg bodyweight) with standard diet for 60 days, whereas controls received only standard diet. Semen collections by artificial vagina and blood collections were started from the 46th day of treatment and collected once weekly for six consecutive weeks. A total of 84 ejaculates (6 ejaculates/ram) and blood samples were collected. After macroscopic and microscopic evaluations of fresh semen, all ejaculates were pooled, extended with Tris Egg Yolk Citric Fructose extender, and divided into four aliquots for evaluation at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h of preservation at 4°C. The data were analysed using Student’s t-test. Mean total serum protein, albumin (A) and globulin (G) concentrations in control and treatment groups were 6.06 ± 0.04 and 6.83 ± 0.05 gm/dL, 2.53 ± 0.04 and 2.89 ± 0.04 g/dL, 3.18 ± 0.16 and 3.96 ± 0.11 g/dL, respectively (P = 0.01). Mean total serum alanine amino transaminase (ALT), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), A/G ratio, and ALT/AST ratio in control and treatment groups (31.27 ± 1.21 and 30.85 ± 0.87 IU/L, 106.06 ± 4.98 and 104.92 ± 5.02 IU/L, respectively) did not differ between control and treatment groups. Fresh semen parameters for control and treatment groups were as follows: ejaculate volume 0.99 ± 0.03 mL and 1.56 ± 0.01 mL; sperm motility 77.92 ± 0.21% and 81.82 ± 0.61%; sperm concentration 3862.71 ± 42.1 and 5035.42 ± 155.34; live sperm 77.86 ± 0.31% and 81.56 ± 0.43%; hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST)-positive sperm 66.01 ± 0.49% and 68.49 ± 0.53%) (P = 0.01). Seminal pH did not differ between groups. Mean sperm abnormality was 3.64 ± 0.05% and 3.17 ± 0.10% in control and treatment group, respectively, which decreased (P = 0.01) in the treatment group compared with the control group. Sperm motility after 24, 48, and 72 h of preservation at 4°C in control and treatment groups were 57.46 ± 0.49% and 59.68 ± 0.16, 45.56 ± 0.63 and 49.11 ± 0.26, 35.94 ± 0.46 and 37.90 ± 0.39, respectively (P = 0.01). Similarly, live sperm at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h of preservation at 4°C for control and treatment groups was 69.59 ± 0.32% and 72.96 ± 0.34%, 56.90 ± 0.43% and 61.05 ± 0.34%, 46.23 ± 0.40% and 51.91 ± 0.09%, 36.63 ± 0.35% and 42.95 ± 0.29%, respectively (P = 0.01). Total abnormal sperm at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h of preservation at 4°C for control and treatment groups were 4.12 ± 0.08% and 3.60 ± 0.02%, 5.31 ± 0.12% and 4.27 ± 0.06%, 7.93 ± 0.26% and 6.48 ± 0.06%, 11.11 ± 0.33% and 8.93 ± 0.10%, respectively (P = 0.01). The HOST-positive spermatozoa for control and treatment groups at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h of preservation at 4°C were 66.47 ± 0.38% and 69.58 ± 0.17%, 52.85 ± 0.34% and 55.49 ± 0.23%, 42.18 ± 0.16% and 45.69 ± 0.18%, 34.85 ± 0.25% and 37.26 ± 0.24%, respectively (P = 0.01). The results infer that dietary supplementation with extract of Moringa oleifera leaves ameliorated the serum biochemical profile and led to an in improvement in sperm quality.

The author thanks the Department of Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics, CVAS, Bikaner, India, and Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Bikaner, India.