The Functional Role of Dried Fig, Date and Olive Oil on Rats with Immune Dysfunction

Ibrahim, Hoda S.; Rabeh, N. M.; Elghandour, Hanan M.; Sabry, Shafika M.

doi:10.21608/jfds.2018.36021

The Functional Role of Dried Fig, Date and Olive Oil on Rats with Immune Dysfunction

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Nutrition and Food Science Department, Faculty of Home Economics, Helwan University

² Regional Center for Food and Feed, Agricultural Research Center.

³ Nutrition and Food Science Department, Faculty of Home Economics, Helwan University.

10.21608/jfds.2018.36021

Abstract

This work was aimed to determine the effect of dried fig, date and olive oil supplementation on rats with immune dysfunction. Chemical composition of dried fig, date fruit and olive oil has recorded high content of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Olive oil showed high content of calories, fats,omega-6 and vitamins but low in iron. Dried figs, date and olive oil revealed the presence of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Rats feeding on dried figs, olive oil and dates fruit separately or in combination had improved significantly the liver functions and lipid profile, compared to +ve control group. On the other hand, rats with induced immune dysfunction had significant decrease(P<0.05)in the body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) compared to the negative group. However, serum catalase activity were significantly (P>0.05) increased for rats fed the tested materials, compared to the corresponding values of the positive control group. Results also illustrated that there were no histopathological changes in liver among groups fed on dried figs, olive oil and dates fruit separately or in combination. It could be concluded that, dried figs, dates fruit and olive oil had beneficial effects on liver functions, lipid profile and stimulates the immune system of rats with immune dysfunction.

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