The Effect of Nitrate on some Biochemical Parameters of Rabbits and Ameliorate its Effect by using Vitamin E and Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of nitrate in the feed of the rabbits on the total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, triglyceride and urea in serum and to study ameliorate nitrate toxicity by using vitamin E and rosemary. Twenty-eight adult New Zealand rabbits were divided randomly into four groups (7 rabbits in each group), Group 1 (G₁): Fed basal ration as a control group. Group 2 (G₂): Fed ration supplemented with nitrate (168 mg/kg B.W./day), Group 3 (G₃): Fed ration supplemented with nitrate (168 mg/kg B.W./day) plus vitamin E (100 mg/kg B.W.). Group 4 (G₄): Fed ration supplemented with nitrate (168 mg/kg B.W./day) plus rosemary (500 mg/kg B.W.). The results showed a significant (p≤0.05) decrease in total protein and globulin in the group that fed nitrate (G₂) compared with the control (G₁) and groups fed a mixture of vitamin E and rosemary with nitrate (G₃ and G₄). The cholesterol, triglyceride and blood urea concentration showed a significant increase (p≤0.05) in the group that fed nitrate (G₂) compared with the control group (G₁), whereas the groups that fed vitamin E and rosemary with nitrate (G₃ and G₄) showed a significant (p≤0.05) decreased in the parameters measured compared with the nitrate fed rabbits (G₂). The results illustrated above revealed a remarkable impact of nitrate supplementation causing a significant decrement in protein concentrations along with considerable rise in the cholesterol, triglyceride and blood urea levels which was partially neutralized by vitamin E and rosemary.