CHRONIC EXPERIMENTAL FEEDING OF IMIDACLOPRID INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND AMELIORATION WITH VITAMIN C & Withania somnifera IN LAYER BIRDS

The present study on effect of imidacloprid induced oxidative stress and its amelioration was carried out at definite time periods in different groups for 90 days on 48 layer birds of above 2 months age that were divided into six groups consisting of 8 in each. The birds were divided into group 1 was control, group 2 was treated with imidacloprid @ 200 ppm in feed, group 3 was treated with vitamin C @ 200 ppm in feed, group 4 was treated with both imidacloprid@200ppm and vitamin C 200ppm, group 5 was treated with Withania somnifera @ 500 ppm in feed and group 6 was treated with imidacloprid @ 200 ppm in feed + Vitamin C @ 200 ppm in feed + Withania somnifera @ 500 ppm in feed. Liver tissues were collected in liquid nitrogen at the point of slaughter and stored in deep freezer at -20 0 C. The tissue biochemical profile revealed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in GSH concentration and increase in TBARS levels in liver of group 2. Group 3 value was insignificant from control and group 4 showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in comparison to group 2. The alterations in oxidative stress profiles indicated hepatotoxicity and moderate protection was provided to counteract the toxic effects of imidacloprid.