Evaluation of Adding Aqueous Extract of Opuntia Ficus Indica Leaves To Tris Extender on the Criteria of Awassi Rams Semen Stored at Cooling

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the adding effect of Opuntia Ficus Indica extract (OFI) to Tris extender preserved of Awassi rams semen characteristics. This study was carried out at the Animal Farm of the Animal Production Department / College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences/ University of Baghdad. Semen was extended using Tris extender with adding different concentrations of OFI extract which were 0% (control group), 0.5% (T1), 1% (T2), and 3% (T3). The effect of additives was studied during different preservation periods 0, 24, and 48 hours at 5°C. Adding 1% of OFI extract significantly increased (P≤0.05) individual sperm motility at different time post-cooling. While adding 0.5, 1, and 3% of OFI extract decreased sperm's abnormality after 24 hours post-cooling. Also, using 0.5 and 1% of OFI extract improved plasma membrane integrity at 24 and 48 hours post-cooling. The sperm viability significantly increase (P≤0.05) in T2 group at zero time and after 24 hours post-cooling. This study proved that adding 3% of OFI extract to diluted Awassi rams semen may be lead to sperm damage.

Evaluation of Adding Prickly Pear Extracts to the Diluted Ram’s Semen at Preservation

“…This process leads to loss of membrane integrity, making sperm less able for fertilization (Van Tran et al, 2017). The studies showed a significant effect on semen quality by adding different types of antioxidant such as adding zinc oxide (Neamah et al, 2022), the Opuntia ficus-indica extracts (Banana et al, 2021), and astaxanthin and taurine (Neamah and Houbi, 2020). Kuti, (2004) referred that the cactus pear has effective compounds such as flavonoids, dihydroflavonol, and flavones, in addition, cactus contains natural antioxi-dants including carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, vitamins, chelators, and enzymes (Fernández-López et al, 2010).…”