Giving bidara leaf extract (Ziziphus mauritiana) through drinking water as an alternative antioxidant against quail haematological

Bidara leaves ( Ziziphus mauritiana ) contain quercetin 3-O-rhamnoglucoside 7-O-rhamnoside which is a major flavonoid compound that has the potential as an antioxidant. This study was aimed to determine the effect of giving bidara leaf extract as an alternative antioxidant on the haematological status of quail. This study used 160 quails aged 9 days that were reared for 42 days. This study used a completely randomized design, which consisted of 5 treatments and 4 replications. Using the experimental arrangement: P0 (without vitamin C and bidara leaf extract); P1(vitamin C); P2 (0.20 mL bidara leaf extract); P3 (0.24 mL bidara leaf extract) and P4 (0.28 mL bidara leaf extract). Parameters measured were hematocrit, haemoglobin, erythrocyte and leukocyte. The result showed that erythrocytes and leucocytes had no significant effect (P>0.05) but had a significant effect (P<0.05) on haemoglobin and hematocrit. The highest haemoglobin level was at P4 while the lowest haemoglobin level was at P0. The treatment of P3 (0.24 mL of bidara leaf extract) can increase the levels of quail hematocrit. Therefore, it can be concluded that the higher level of giving bidara leaf extract, the higher of haemoglobin level in quails and giving bidara leaf extract at P3 (0.24 mL) was the best alternative to an antioxidant in quails.