الفهرس 
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Abstract
Since medicinal herbs have been used widely nowadays to prevent and/or control many metabolic, nutritional and health-related diseases in both humans and animals. In this thesis, a series of experimental feeding trials were conducted to evaluate the impact of dietary fortification of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis and /or basil (Ocimum basilicum) leaves powder as a promising clinico-nutritional management tool to prevent and/or control some metabolic and nutritional problems that are commonly occurs in dogs in order to offer results obtained to dog food manufacturers as reference and also as a typical model for human nutritionists. It is worth to say that all feeding trials in this study were carried out at a private Rottweiler dog farm located in Al-Obour city, Cairo, Egypt. The study protocol followed the guidelines of the International Animal Care Institute Committee of Cairo University (IACUC) and approved with protocol number of CU II F 18 18. Dogs utilized throughout the different trials were housed in individual kennels; (1 × 1.2 m) and had access to an outside kennel (10 × 20 m) for exercise and socialization with each other’s for 1 hour daily. Kennels were cleaned twice daily. Dogs had access to fresh water ad-libitum throughout the experiment. All animals were showered once weekly with Betadine® shampoo and Cytéal® antiseptic foaming solution. All basal diets used in the trials were locally processed in extruded form, iso-nitrogenous, equi-caloric, of the same fiber content and formulated based on energy distribution recommendation of American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Each dog in different trials was fed separately and the appropriate amount of food was calculated and introduced to each dog according to its body weight, growth energy requirements and the energy density of the diets.
The first feeding trial aimed to study the impact of such phytogenic additives on glycemic status of dogs. Forty-five Rottweiler dogs with an average initial weight of (20.5 to 24.5 kg) were assigned to five experimental groups, each of three replicates (three dogs/replicate) and fed an experimentally processed extruded basal diet that was formulated based on energy distribution recommendation of AAFCO. The groups were as following: The first (G1) was fed the basal diet only without any fortification (negative control); the second (G2) consumed the basal diet fortified with a commercially available synthetic palatant ( added during coating step) and served as (positive control); the third (G3) was fortified with rosemary leaves powder (at 0.05%); the fourth (G4) was fortified with dry basil leaves (at 0.05%) and the fifth ( G5) was offered the basal diet to which both rosemary and basil leaves were fortified (each at 0.025%).
Results revealed that G4 and G5 exhibited a positive impact on growth performance traits. Dogs in G3, G4, and G5 showed significant decreases in serum glucose levels in comparison to dogs of the control groups (G1 and G2). It was clear that the inclusion level of 0.05% of basil leaves powder (G4) showed the greatest hypoglycemic action. Indeed, dogs in G4 showed a reduction of (31%) in blood glucose level, followed by G5 and G3 groups (16.25% and 14% respectively). Furthermore, dietary fortification of basil leaves significantly inhibited the amylase enzyme activity. Both insulin and cortisol levels were increased and decreased respectively in this group (G4) compared to control groups. In addition, dietary fortification with rosemary and/or basil significantly increased glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels, while values for malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) decreased. It could be concluded that dietary fortification of dog diet with rosemary and/or basil leaves powder at 0.05% separately or 0.025% in combination might be used as promising modulators of blood glucose levels and could be safely used at such levels of fortification as clinico-nutritional management tool for the prevention and control of diabetes mellitus in dogs.
The second feeding trial was planned to evaluate the impact of the same additives (rosemary and /or basil leaves) on food palatability, growth performance parameters, health status, immune response, antioxidant status and explore the possibility of their use as clinico-nutritional management tool to overcome body weight problems in Rottweiler dogs. Consequently in 2 steps feeding trial, a total of forty five (45) Rottweiler dogs (mixed sex) with an average live body weight of (25.67 to 30.13 kg) were assigned into 5 equal experimental groups; each subdivided into 3 replicates (3 dogs/ replicate).The first (G1) was fed on basal diet only without any additives and served as negative control, the second (G2) was fed on the same diet fortified with a commercial synthetic palatant at a rate of 1% and served as positive control group, the third (G3)was fed on the same diet fortified with 0.05% Rosemary leaves powder, the fourth (G4)was fed on the same diet fortified with 0.05% Basil leaves powder and the diet of the fifth group (G5) was fortified with equal amounts of both Rosemary and Basil leaves powder ( 0.025% each). The first step in this trial lasted for 52 days of which 7 days were considered as acclimatization period. On the basis of data obtained at the end of the first step; the second step was planned to confirm the ability of the phytogenic additives under investigation to control weight problems in dogs; that’s why (G5) was terminated and dogs in (G3) were shift to be fed on diet introduced to (G4) and vice versa for extra 52 days.
At the end of the first step, results revealed that (G2) surpassed all groups in terms of actual food intake (96.34 % vs. 95%, 88.44% and 77.7 %) for groups (G5, G4 and G3) respectively, and the reversed episode was recorded regarding refusal amounts. In addition, the body weight gain followed the same pattern of food intake and dogs in (G3) exhibited a pronounced weight loss. Regarding insulin levels; results implied that both G4 and G5 exhibited significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in insulin levels. Concerning lipase enzyme, dogs in G3 exhibited a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction of lipase by about 20.5%. Furthermore, reduction of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoproteins (LDL) and improved high density lipoproteins (HDL) in dogs of (G3, G4 and G5) were also observed. At the end of the second step of the trial, the obtained data confirmed all results of the first step concerning the ability of diets fortified with Rosmarinus officinalis and/or Ocimum basilicum at the aforementioned levels to control weight problems in Rottweiler dogs either via appetite inhibition (Rosmarinus officinalis) or attractive palatant (Ocimum basilicum) and also via their impact on both lipase enzyme, insulin levels as well as lipid profile.
We could conclude that Rosmarinus officinalis and/or Ocimum basilicum could be used as appetite inhibitor and attractive palatant respectively beside their clinico-nutritional role to overcome common metabolic aliments in dogs (overweight and underweight) episode.
The third feeding trial was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of the same dietary additives on growth performance and serum lipid profile and ability to overcome the problem of hyperlipidemia that was commonly encountered in dogs. A total of forty five (45) Rottweiler dogs were assigned to five experimental groups, reared and fed in the same manner as mentioned in the previous feeding trials. Results revealed that (G2) surpassed all groups in terms of actual food intake amount followed by (G5), (G1) and (G4) respectively. Meanwhile dogs in (G3) achieved the lowest food intake and highest refusal amount of food. In addition, the body weight gain followed the same pattern and dogs in (G3) showed a highly significant (P ≤ 0.05) weight loss in comparison to other experimental and control groups. The obtained data also revealed a great reduction of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoproteins (LDL). Meanwhile, high density lipoproteins (HDL) levels had been improved in all experimental groups. In addition, such dietary treatment resulted in a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction of lipase enzyme in G3, while G4 and G5 displayed no significant change. Moreover, G4 and G5 exhibited significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in insulin levels, while insulin levels in G3 were marginally higher than control groups without statistical difference. We could conclude that dietary fortification of Rosmarinus officinalis and/or Ocimum basilicum leaves powder at rate of 0.05% in dog diets has a positive impact on lipid profile and could be practically applied to ameliorate the problem of hyperlipidemia that is commonly encountered in dogs.
The fourth feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the possible protective effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and/or Basil (Ocimum basilicum) leaves powder against hepato-renal dysfunction problem of Rottweiler dogs. A total of forty five (45) apparent healthy Rottweiler dogs were assigned into 5 equal experimental groups, reared and fed in the same manner as mentioned in the previous feeding trials. The feeding trial lasted for 52 days of which 7 days were considered as acclimatization period. Results revealed that G2 and G5 gained the highest weight and showed greater actual food intake followed by G4 and G1. However, G3 showed pronounced weight loss and the highest rates of food refusal among all groups at the end of the experimental period. Results also revealed highly significant (P ≤ 0.05) improvement of hepatic function indicators of all treated groups in comparison to the control groups. As the levels of ALT, AST, ALP and GGT showed great reduction in G3, G4 and G5 compared to control groups. Moreover, the obtained data implied that G3, G4 and G5 exhibited significant (P ≤ 0.05) accretion of serum total proteins, albumin and globulin. A vast improvement pattern of renal functions were recorded as well. Creatinine levels showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) reduction in G3, G4 and G5, urea and uric acid level records ranged from numerical to significant reduction. Besides the hepatic and renal functions markers; the oxidative stress biomarkers including GSH, SOD and CAT that were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased, and MDA and LDH that were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased in G3, G4 and G5, confirmed and explained the positive impact of such additives on liver and kidney functions and integrity.
It could conclude that dietary fortification of dog food with Rosmarinus officinalis and/or Ocimum basilicum leaves powder at a rate of 0.05% separately or at a rate of 0.025% in combination together could be used as a promising phytogenic hepato-reno-protective food additives against hepato-renal dysfunction in dogs.