Investigation of the Cholesterol Lowering Effects of Psyllium Seeds (Plantago Ovata) in the Growing Coturnix Quails Fed by Cholesterol-Enriched Diets through Evaluation of Growth Components, Blood Parameters and Egg and Carcass Quality

In order to evaluate the cholesterol lowering effects of psyllium seeds and also to evaluate the effects of this medicinal plant on growth efficiency, blood parameters, carcass traits and quail egg quality, 160 21-day-old chicks were studied in cages using a 2×2 factorial design with two dietary levels of psyllium seeds (0 and 3%) and two dietary levels of cholesterol (0 and 1%) in a randomized complete block design with 16 experimental units including 4 treatments and 4 replications and 10 birds (male and female) in each replication for 40 days, which were divided into two 20-day periods (as first and second breeding periods). Experimental treatments included a diet without psyllium seed and cholesterol, a diet containing cholesterol, a diet containing psyllium seeds and a diet containing psyllium seed and cholesterol. Serum, egg yolk and muscles (thigh and breast) cholesterol were evaluated in the treatments along with growth efficiency, blood parameters and egg and carcass quality. The results showed that oral administration of cholesterol had no effects on increasing serum lipids and cholesterol (P>0.05). In quails fed diets containing psyllium seeds compared to diets without psyllium seeds, breast and thigh muscles and egg yolk cholesterol, lymphocytes, relative weight of visceral organs, cecum, testis, thigh and liver were decreased and white blood cells, neutrophils, relative weights of carcass, duodenum, breast and pancreas were increased (P<0.01). The use of psyllium seeds throughout the entire study period increased feed intake and weight gain. The feed conversion ratio improved in the first period of rearing due to the use of psyllium seeds in the birds' diets. It was found that while cholesterol is  used solely in the diet, it increases the level of cholesterol in the muscles of the breast and thighs and egg yolk compared to the control group, but while cholesterol is used in combination with psyllium seed in diet, no increase in the cholesterol of those organs will be observed. Therefore, the use of psyllium seeds in diets with high cholesterol levels can play a beneficial role in preventing the increase of muscle and yolk cholesterol.