Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India.
*Part of MVSc. thesis of first author.
Biochemical alterations in serum, plasma, erythrocytes and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells of hill heifer calves fed at 30% level of Polystichum squarrosum fern powder for 24 months were studied. Insignificant effect on serum LDH, arginase, and significant decrease in total immunoglobulin, significant increase in plasma fibrinogen and antitrypsin was observed in fern fed calves. Significant decrease in erythrocyte haemoglobin, lipid peroxidation, increase in catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione-s-transferase and insignificant effect on glutathione reductase was found. Membrane bound enzymes viz. acetyl cholinesterase and different adenosine triphosphatases of erythrocytes were increased in fern fed calves than control. No effect was observed on erythrocytes osmotic fragility, arginase and membrane composition viz. cholesterol, phospholipid, total lipid, total protein and their ratio. Glutathione peroxidase and myeloperoxidase activity in PMN cells were decreased. Results showed that feeding of fern caused suppression of humoral immunity, tissue damage and possibly initiation of tumor formation. The toxic effects were due to effect on oxidant defence, glutathione detoxification system and membrane permeability of erythrocytes.
