Withania somnífera root extract attenuates lead induced clinicopathological effects in rats Hore S.K.3, Garg Satish K.3, Batra Munish*,3,1, Ahmad A.H.3,2 3Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura-281001 1department of Veterinary Pathology, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145 2department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145 *Corresponding author: email: munishbatra74@rediffmail.com
Abstract Present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective potential of withania somnífera root extract (WRE) against lead-induced clinico- pathological alterations in rats. No apparent clinical signs were observed in any of the test groups -control, lead alone (0.5% lead acetate) and WRE (1%) +(0.5% lead acetate) in drinking water of rats during the 12 weeks study period. Body weights, weight gain, and organ weights (absolute and relative) in animals of lead alone treated group were severely and significantly (P<0.05–0.001) altered while in lead+WRE treated rats, these indices were less severely affected and were almost comparable to the values of control group. Similarly, gross and histopathological studies revealed severe damage to liver, kidneys, spleen and testes in lead-alone treated group while the lesions were less severe in lead+WRE treated rats. These observations suggested that Withania somnífera root extract offering protection against lead toxicity in rats. Top Keywords Clinical pathology, Lead, Rat, Withania somnífera. Top |