The Role of Silymarin in Improving Physiological Markers Related to HeatStress in Male Quails

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to investigate the ability of silymarin to minimize the effects
of thermal stress on physiological markers in male quails. Forty adult male birds, weighing 120±10
g age, 8 weeks, were randomly allocated into four groups. Control group. Heat stress group: the quails
exposed to a temperature of 42±2ºC for 4 hours daily. Heat stress with the silymarin group: the quails
were exposed to a temperature of 42±2ºC for 4 hours daily while receiving 200 mg/kg of silymarin
orally. Silymarin group: the quails receiving 200 mg/kg of silymarin orally. The experiment lasted
ten weeks. Heat stress reduces WBC, RBC, PCV, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocyte%, HDL,
liver, and body weight while raising the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, heterophil%, ALT, AST, ALP,
HSP70, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in contrast to the control group. Heat stress with silymarin
elevated WBC, RBC, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocyte%, and HDL while diminishing H/L
ratio, heterophil%, ALT, AST, ALP, HSP70, and triglyceride linked with the heat stress group.
Silymarin group had higher WBC, lymphocyte%, HDL and lower the H/L ratio, heterophil%, and
ALT values compared to the control group. The study identified that silymarin enhanced
physiological markers in male Japanese quails under thermos-stressed conditions.