Protective role of Withania somnífera root extract in endosulfan induced oxidative stress and immunopathological effects in layer birds

The present study was designed to investigate the potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Withania somnifera root (WSRE) to attenuate endosulfan-induced oxidative stress and immunopathological effects in layer birds. Seventeen week old pullets were divided in to 3 groups of 10 birds each. Group I served as control, group II was given feed containing 60 ppm endosulfan and group III was co-treated with 60 ppm of endosulfan and WSRE at the rate of 100 mg kg⁻¹ b.wt. for 45 days. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and catalase activity in blood and immunotoxicity by lymphoproliferative assay, where B- and T- lymphocytes were stimulated by specific mitogens and ELISA to measure antibody titre against Ranikhet disease virus antigen. There was significant increase in LPO with decrease in reduced glutathione and catalase activity in red blood cells of birds treated with endosulfan as compared to control group. WSRE treatment significantly ameliorated these effects. B and T-cell stimulation as well as the Ranikhet disease vaccine-induced antibody titre was significantly decreased in endosulfan fed birds in comparison to control, whereas, WSRE treatment significantly increased these parameters and attenuated endosulfan-induced pathological changes. The results demonstrate ameliorative effects of WSRE in the endosulfan-induced oxidative stress and immunosuppression in poultry.