GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY AND MASS SPECTROSCOPY OF JUNIPERUS PHOENICE STEM BARK EXTRACT AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE HAEMATO BIOCHEMICAL VALUES OF GROWING RABBITS

Juniperus phoenice stem bark have been source of wide array of bioactive compounds with endless therapeutic properties. This study evaluated the gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy of Juniperus phoenice stem bark extract and its influence on the haemato-biochemical values of growing rabbits. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy of Juniperus phoenice stem bark extract revealed the presence of 37 phytoconstituents with varying concentrations with total aggregate of 95.28 %. 40 – 6 weeks growing male rabbits (Newzealand white × chinchilla) weighing 456 ± 8.03 were randomly assigned to 4 groups (A, B, C and D) of 10 animals which was further divided into 5 replicates consisting of 2 rabbits each in a completely randomized design. Basal diet according to the nutrient requirement of rabbits outlined by NRC (1977). Animals in group A was fed basal diet with 0 % Juniperus phoenice stem bark extract (JPSB) while B, C and D were fed basal diet with JPSB at 3 mL, 6 mL and 9 mL once daily. It was observed that rabbits in group D fed 9 mL/day had a significantly (P˂0.05) higher pack cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentrations, mean corpuscular volume, white blood cells and their differentials compared to the other treatment except basophil count were not significantly (P˃0.05) influenced by the treatments. Similarly, serum biochemical indices values were topmost in G3 (6 mL/day) and G4 (9 mL/day), midway in G2 (3 mL/day) and lowest in G1 (0 mL/day). Creatinine, urea and total bilirubin count were not significantly (P˃0.05) different among the treatments. It was concluded that JPSB has potential pharmaceutical properties and can be fed to growing rabbits up to 9 mL/day without jeopardizing the health of animals