Effect of Organic Turmeric Supplemented-diet in Rabbits Acutely Exposed to Ultraviolet Radiation: Oxidative Stress in the Blood

Abstract

This project investigated the oxidative stress in the blood of pubertal rabbit fed diet containing 2% organic turmeric at post recovery from acute ultraviolet radiation, with the aid of three oxidative stress markers: Malondialdehyde (MDA), Catalase (CAT) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD). Forty unsexed rabbits with age ranging between 4-6 weeks were weight balanced and randomly divided into eight treatment groups: AM: Male rabbits fed with formulated organic feed without turmeric and without exposure to ultraviolet radiation. AF: Female rabbits fed with formulated organic feed without turmeric and without exposure to ultraviolet radiation. E: Female rabbits fed with commercial feed without turmeric and without exposure to ultraviolet radiation. I: Female rabbits fed with organic feed with turmeric before and after radiation C: Male rabbits fed with organic feed with the turmeric and without exposure to ultraviolet radiation. F: Male rabbits fed formulated organic feed without turmeric before radiation and after radiation turmeric was given. G: Male rabbits exposed to radiation without the inclusion of turmeric in their feed throughout. H: Male rabbits fed formulated organic feed with turmeric before radiation and without turmeric after radiation. MDA mean value obtained in the control treatment for male was not significantly (p>0.05) but only numerically higher than that of the treatment G. MDA mean value obtained in the control treatment for female was only numerically higher than that of treatment I. CAT and SOD mean values obtained in treatment G were also only numerically higher than the control treatment in male rabbits. CAT and SOD mean values obtained in treatment I were only numerically higher than the control treatment in female rabbits. The study concluded that the exposure to ultraviolet radiation at the intensity and period in this study did not result in oxidative stress in the blood of pubertal rabbits.