Pesticides like
Mancozeb are being increasingly indispensable in the control of crop pests. Unfortunately, they have been implicated in genotoxicity due to their ubiquity, toxicological properties, persistence and presence in the food chain. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of powdered avocado seed on reproductive parameters in the management of oxidative stress in female rabbits caused by the
herbicide Mancozeb. Twenty-eight female rabbits aged 7-8 months and weighing between 2780.4 g and 3143.7 g were randomly divided into four groups of seven rabbits each. Each group received for 90 consecutive days distilled water or
Mancozeb associated or not with avocado seed
powder orally as follows: T1: 10 ml distilled water; T2, T3 and T4: 100 mg/kg bw
Mancozeb. This was followed by
oral administration of 250, 500, and 0 mg/kg of avocado seed
powder for T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Water and feed were distributed ad libitum. Collected data concerned growth, carcass and reproductive performances, hematological and biochemistry characteristics. Results demonstrated that pregnant and lactating female rabbits administered
Mancozeb exhibited a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in food intake,
body weight, and
body weight gain. Female rabbits exposed to
Mancozeb had a decrease in litter size and weight from birth to weaning, as well as in weaning
body weight and weight increase, fertility and prolificacy rate, milk yield, and daily milk efficiency. However, administration of avocado seed
powder reversed (P < 0.05) the trends in these parameters in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in relative weight of the kidney and liver, concentrations of
urea,
creatinine,
alanine and
aspartate aminotransferases, mean cell volume, white blood cells, and lymphocytes were all associated with increased
Mancozeb rates (P < 0.05). On the contrary, administration of the
Mancozeb caused decrease in
hemoglobin (Hb), Red blood Cell (RBC) and
protein content. Administration of avocado seed
powder significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated the
Mancozeb effects on these parameters. Applying 500 mg/kg b.w Avocado seed
powder may be suggested as an alternative
therapy for reproductive defects induced by
Mancozeb in female rabbits.