Antioxidant effect of α-tocopherol and cow urine distillate against oxidative stress induced by heavy metal toxicity in broiler chicken

Abstract

Forty eight, one week old broiler chicks were randomly divided into eight groups with 6 birds each to study the antioxidant effect of αtocopherol and cow urine distillate (CUD) against oxidative stress induced by heavy metal toxicity of lead acetate and mercuric chloride. Group I served as control receiving standard feed and water ad libitum, whereas, group II, III and IV received in feed lead acetate @ 500 ppm, lead acetate @500 ppm and αtocopherol @ 300 mg/kg with lead acetate @ 500 ppm and an oral supplementation of cow urine distillate @ 1 ml/bird/day respectively. Group V, VI and VII received in feed mercuric chloride @ 50 ppm, mercuric chloride @ 50 ppm with α tocopherol @ 300 mg/kg and mercuric chloride @ 50 ppm and CUD as an oral gavage @ 1 ml/bird/day respectively throughout the experiment. Group VIII served as CUD control receiving oral gavage of CUD @ 1 ml/bird/day. Oxidative stress assessment was carried out in terms of estimation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in erythrocytes, extent of splenotoxicity and body weight alterations. Ingestion of heavy metals resulted in significant elevation in LPO level, pathological alterations in spleen and other organs with significant reduction in body weight. The extent of pathological lesions in the spleen and the level of LPO were of lesser order in the birds supplemented with α tocopherol and CUD, therefore, it is concluded that α tocopherol and cow urine distillate have a protective effect against heavy metal toxicity in broiler chicken.