The Effect of Turmeric Powder on the Histology and Antioxidant Status of Japanese Quail liver Exposed to Oral Cadmium

Poultry diet contamination with cadmium (Cd) is both important in terms of economic losses due to reduced production and public health. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of turmeric powder (TP) containing a certain amount of curcuminoids (2.96%) on Japanese quail exposed to dietary cadmium. 180 male Japanese quail from 22 to 55 days of age were divided into 6 groups and received, basal diet(BD),  BD + 3 g/kg TP,  BD + 5 g/kg TP,  BD + 100mg/kg Cd, BD + 100 mg/kg  Cd and 3 g/kg TP, and BD + 100mg/kg Cd and 5 g/kg TP. Cadmium contaminated diet significantly decreases SOD, CAT, and total antioxidant capacity and increasing MDA concentration in liver tissue. Cadmium induced hepatic histological lesions, including fatty change, hyperaemia, single hepatocyte necrosis, and leukocyte infiltration. Turmeric powder substantially increased antioxidant status and decreased the severity of liver histological lesions in a cadmium-contaminated diet (P <0.5). When 5 g/kg of turmeric powder was added to the cadmium-contaminated food, the deleterious effects of dietary cadmium in Japanese quail were reduced more effectively.