The effect of saccharomyces cerevisiae and spirulina platensis on glutathione and leucocytes count in rabbits

Abstract

Glutathione is the important antioxidant agent that is used for body detoxification system. Because of the fact that ıt is crucial for protecting health. A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of natural additives such as live yeast culture Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) and microalgae Spirulina platensis (SP) on the glutathione and leukocytes counts of rabbits. Forty male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 5-6 weeks, were studied in 4 groups. Treatments were control group, SC (added 3 g/kg diet), SP (added 5% of the diet) and, SC and SP (added 3 g/kg diet and added 5% of the diet) respectively. The experiment lasted for 90 days and the blood samples were obtained by ear venipuncture on the 90th day. In conclusion, according to the results of this study, although not statistically significant, supplementing rabbit with S. cerevisiae or S. platensis had increased on glutathione values. Glutathione tend to be positively correlated with the addition of SC or SP. No significant difference in white blood cell counts was evidenced, even if lymphocyte counts tended to increase and neutrophil counts to decrease in rabbits fed SC or SC+SP. The determination of biological consequences (antioxidant potential, resistance to diseases, and improvement of nutritional status) requires further investigations.