The Effect of Pennyroyal (Mentha Pulegium L.) on Growth Performance and Some Serum Biochemical Parameters in New Zealand Rabbits

Abstract

This study was to identify the effects of dried aerial parts powder pennyroyal added to rabbit diets on growth performance and some serum biochemical parameters. The research utilized 15 New Zealand rabbits weighing 2-2.1 kg on average. It employed control and two experimental groups with five rabbits each. All rabbits were hosted in individual cages. While basal diet was provided to the control group, pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) powder was given at 0.1% (P1) and 0.2% (P2) levels to the treatment groups, respectively. The trial lasted for 28 days. It was measured body weight and feed consumption of animals at the beginning and end of the experiment. Blood samples were taken from rabbits on days 0, 14 and 28 of the study and the changes of serum biochemical parameters throughout the study were analyzed. There were no differences between the groups in terms of performance parameters (P>0.05). It was observed that the high point result was that the pennyroyal lowered the serum cholesterol level (P<0.05). However, pennyroyal did not affect other biochemical parameters (P>0.05). In conclusion, it was noted that pennyroyal might be used as an alternative growth promoter and cholesterol regulator to rabbit diets. In particular, up to 0.2% pennyroyal may utilize in rabbit diets.

In vitro ruminal fermentation, core nutrient, fatty acids and mineral matter of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) herbage at different phenological stages

“…These species are also known by the name pennyroyal. It is found in natural vegetation in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Türkiye (Ölmez & Makav, 2021 ). The green part of the pennyroyal plant contains terpene compounds such as pulegone, menthone, piperitone, piperitenone and isomenthon (Teixeira et al., 2012 ).…”