Influence of Dietary Supplementation of Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) Leaf Powder on Haemato-Biochemical Profile and Serum Antioxidant Status of Japanese Quail

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of graded levels of Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) leaf powder on haematological, serum biochemical, enzyme activities, mineral profile, and antioxidant status of Japanese quail, with emphasis on metabolic health and physiological safety. The experiment was conducted at the Instructional Poultry Farm, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, during June-July 2025, for a period of six weeks. A total of 180 Japanese quail chicks were allotted under a completely randomized design, each with three replicates of twelve birds, and were randomly assigned to five different dietary treatments. A control diet (T1), a basal diet supplemented with 0.5% Amla fruit powder (T2), and basal diets supplemented with 0.5% (T3), 1.0% (T4), and 2.0% (T5) Amla leaf powder were included among the treatments. Blood samples were taken at 42 days of age from representative birds to evaluate haematological parameters, serum biochemical parameters, enzyme activities, mineral profile, and antioxidant status of Japanese quail. Duncan's multiple range test and general linear model procedures were used to analyze the data. Haematological parameters, serum glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin–globulin ratio, serum enzyme activities (serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase), and serum calcium and phosphorus did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among treatments, indicating physiological safety of Amla leaf supplementation. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in birds fed 1% and 2% Amla leaf powder (T4 and T5) compared to control. Antioxidant status improved significantly (P<0.05), as evidenced by higher SOD and GSH activities and lower MDA levels, with the most pronounced effect observed in the T4 group. The present study concludes that dietary supplementation of Amla leaf powder, particularly at 1% inclusion level, effectively improved lipid profile and antioxidant status without adversely affecting haematological or metabolic parameters. Amla leaves can thus serve as a safe, cost-effective, and natural phytogenic feed additive for enhancing metabolic health in Japanese quail.