Quail Eggs are medicinal: Zim scientists discover

Do quail eggs help fight diseases and infections.

Are they real medicine? We may have some answers here just keep reading…

Latest research by a team from Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) has cleared the speculation over the medicinal properties of quail eggs.

Following a gold rush for quail eggs by Zimbabweans last year after news that the eggs and the quails themselves were a great deal in curing various ailments, a team of researchers from CUT sought to find out if this is so and their findings are not disappointing.

‘Indeed quail eggs have medicinal properties,’ concluded the researchers led by Dr Phillip Taru, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Chinhoyi University of Technology.

Read full statement below:

Latest on Quail Eggs Research

In response to earlier speculations in the country that eggs have medicinal properties that can cure most diseases, researchers from Chinhoyi University of Technology have scientifically investigated the antibacterial properties of domesticated quail eggs. Interestingly, the research team led by Dr Phill Taru  reports that preliminary results indicate that quail eggs possess some antibacterial properties. This follows some simple laboratory procedures that were conducted at Chinhoyi University of Technology.The procedure involved collection of eggs from domesticated quails in Budiriro high density suburb. The quails from which the eggs were collected were being fed with chicken feed. According to a senior biochemist in the research team, Dr Kuda Chitindingu, thirteen clinically important bacteria were exposed to quail egg extracts to test for the effectiveness of the quail eggs against the bacteria. Some of the bacteria used for the preliminary study include Escherichia coli (which may cause bloody diarrhea, severe anemia or kidney failure), Salmonella typhi(responsible for typhoid) and Staphylococcus aureus (responsible for skin and soft tissue infections such as boils/abscesses and more serious infections such as bloodstream infections and pneumonia).

The research team used the disc diffusion assay to determine the effectiveness of the quail eggs (on fighting bacteria) which was found to be comparable to gentamycin and kanamycin, which were used as positive controls. Although we are still carrying out further tests, including comparisons with eggs from other birds, we can confidently say our preliminary results indicate that quail eggs have potential to fight bacteria, especially E. coli, says Dr Chitindingu. The major task left is to identify the active compound which is responsible for fighting bacteria, and possibly isolate it for commercial production, Dr Taru went on to say. From further investigations that we are currently conducting, we expect the results to provide a platform for policy-makers in decision making and public engagement regarding quail eggs, says Dr PhillTaru.