EFFECT OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS OF QUAIL (Coturnix japonica) EGG YOLK ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN SELECTED ORGANS OF ALBINO RAT

Abstract

Coturnix japonica eggs are a conventional food containing nutrients that play fundamental roles beyond basic nutrition, their promotion as functional foods should be considered. It had been described as being functional biochemically, due to the essential biomolecules it contains in much regulated quantity. This study is designed to evaluate the possible acute toxicity and therapeutic potential of quail (C. japonica) egg yolk lipid extract as well as the safe dose for consumption. The effects of quail egg yolk lipid extract were investigated on lipid profile parameters, antioxidant effects on selected tissues and kidney and liver function indices. The rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 albino rats each. Group 1 serve as the control group and Groups 2-7 were administered orally 10, 100, 1000, 1600, 2900 and 5000 mg/kg body weight (BW) of the lipid extract of quail egg yolk respectively for twenty-one (21) days. The lipid modulating effect of the extract were evaluated by lipid profile modulation (HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol (TC), while the activity of endogenous antioxidant status were evaluated (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), MDA and total protein (TP), Kidney function indices were evaluated to determine the urea and creatinine concentration and hepatoprotective activities were determined by liver function indices (ALT, GGT, ALP and AST). Quantitative and qualitative analyses of fat soluble vitamins of the Coturnix japonica egg yolk lipid extract were determined by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrophotometer (GC-MS). In the groups administered with the extract, Coturnix japonica egg yolk lipid extract serve as a positive modulator by significantly (p<0.05) lowering the LDL-c, VLDL-c, TAG, and TC concentration and significantly (p<0.05) increasing HDL concentration when compared to the control group in the selected tissues. The administered groups showed a dose dependent decrease in LDL, VLDL, TAG AND TC concentration and dose dependent increase of HDL concentration. The serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatinine and urea show significant (p>0.05) difference in the C. japonica egg lipid extract administered group compared to the control group. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly (p<0.05) lowered in the C. japonica egg lipid extract administered groups in a dose dependent concentration compared to the control group. The endogenous antioxidant status evaluated showed a significantly (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in the GST, GSH, CAT and SOD. It could be concluded that the administration of quail (C. japonica) egg yolk lipid extract in rat is safe at any dose less than or equal to 5000 mg/kg BWT. Therefore, the quail egg possesses therapeutic potential and could be beneficial in the management of disease and ailment associated with oxidative stress.