SIMULTANEOUS ADMINISTRATION OF SILYMARIN AND DOXYCYCLINE IN JAPANESE QUAILS SUGGESTS PROBABLE HERB-DRUG INTERACTION

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate probable herb-drug interaction between silymarin extract and doxycycline and their effect on some biochemical serum parameters in Japanese quails. 120 14-day-old male Japanese quails were equally divided into 4 groups: control group without treatment (n = 30), group, treated with doxycycline (at a dose 10 mg.kg^-1 bw, via drinking water for four days, started 30 days after hatching, n = 30), third group, treated with doxycycline and silymarin 0.5% (started 14 days after hatching, via feed, for twenty days, n = 30) and group, treated with doxycycline and silymarin 1% as described above (n = 30).  Water and food were supplied ad libitum. Blood samples were collected on 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 24, 98, 100 and 102 h from the beginning of the treatment. The feed consumption and the body weight of the quails were registered. Growth and FCR were calculated. Silymarin supplementation provoked a tendency to slightly decrease in serum concentrations of the antibiotic with the time of the treatment compared to doxycycline only treated quails, suggested probable herb-drug interaction. Silymarin administration did not lead to better feed conversion ratio (FCR). The values of triglycerides and ASAT were signifi cantly changed in doxycycline treated groups vs controls.