How to cite this article: Gora RH, Baxla SL, Kerketta P, Toppo R, Kumar N and Roy BK (2013) Ameliorative potential of Tephrosia purpurea against arsenic induced toxicity in wistar rats, Vet World 6(8): 493-496, doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.493-496 Introduction Materials and Methods Arsenic is a toxic metalloid and is a common Experimental animals: Twenty four wistar albino rats environmental pollutant, virtually present in rocks, soil were taken and randomly divided in to three groups and water and is second most important pollutant next (n=8). They were housed in propylene cages under to lead [1]. Exposure to arsenic is known to induce a standard laboratory conditions with standard food and wide range of toxic effects on brain [2], induces water ad-libitum. For this study, control group in which fibrosis of liver [3] and oxidative stress in the body. healthy rats were included and given standard diet and Arsenic mainly effects liver and kidney [4] and causes deionised water, group-I rats were given sodium damage to them. Heavy metals induce over production arsenite @ 10 mg/kg daily oral for 28 days and group – of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequently II rats were treated with Tephrosia purpurea @ 500 enhance lipid peroxidation, decrease the saturated fatty mg/kg along with sodium arsenite @ 10 mg/kg daily oral for 28 days. acids and increase the unsaturated fatty acid contents of membranes. Herbal plants with flavonoids and Ethical approval: The protocol of the experiment was polyphenols are potent inhibitors of oxidative stress approved by the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee [5]. Tephrosia purpurea is commonly known as according to guidelines given by Committee for the “Sharphunka” in Hindi and its leaves were used as Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on constituent in liver tonics [6], have a potent nephropro- Animals (CPCSEA). tective activity [7] and antioxidant property [8]. Chemicals: Sodium arsenite (HiMedia Laboratories To best of our knowledge there was no scientific Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India) was used as source of arsenic report regarding the efficacy of Tephrosia purpurea in this study. Sodium arsenite powder was dissolved in against arsenic induced toxicity. We have conducted this experiment to study the effect of Tephrosia distilled water and given orally to individual animals @ purpurea extract against arsenic induced toxicity. 10 mg/kg [9]. Plant extract: The hydro-alcoholic extract was used along with gum acacia for oral administration @ 500 mg/kg [10]. www.veterinaryworld.org 493 doi:10.5455/vetworld.2013.493-496 Ameliorative potential of Tephrosia purpurea extract against arsenic induced toxicity in wistar rats 1 Ravuri Halley Gora, Sushma Lalita Baxla, Priscilla Kerketta , Reetu Toppo, Naveen Kumar and Birendra Kumar Roy Ranchi Veterinary College, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi – 834006, Jharkhand, India.; 1. Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly - 243122, U.P. India Corresponding author: email:halleygora@gmail.com Received: 08-01-2013, Revised: 31-01-2013, Accepted: 02-02-2013, Published online: 16-05-2013 Ravuri Halley Gora, Abstract Aim: The present investigation has been conducted to evaluate the protective activity of Tephrosia purpurea extract (TPE) against arsenic induced toxicity. Materials and Methods: For this study, twenty four wistar albino rats were taken. Control group, group – I rats were given sodium arsenite @ 10 mg/kg and group – II rats were treated with TPE @ 500 mg/kg along with sodium arsenite @ 10 mg/kg th (daily oral for 28 days). On 29 day animals were slaughtered and various parameters were determined. Serum biomarkers, haematological parameter analysis and histomorphological examination are carried out with estimation of arsenic concentration in tissues. Results: Oral administration of sodium arsenite @ 10 mg/kg for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in Hb%, TEC and TLC, significant increase of serum glucose, cholesterol, calcium and significant increase in arsenic accumulation in tissues. Histopathological results of intestine revealed haemorrhagic enteritis along with loss of villi. Treatment with Tephrosia purpurea @ 500 mg/kg significantly decreased the elevated glucose, LDH levels, along with significant increase haematological levels towards normal. There was reduced haemorrhagic enteritis and presence of intact villi, as compared to arsenic treated group. But there was no significant difference in serum calcium, serum cholesterol and arsenic concentration in tissues, when compared with arsenic treated group. Conclusion: The study conclude that supplementation of TPE (500 mg/kg) daily oral for 28 days has shown protection against arsenic induced toxicity by its protective effect. Keywords: arsenic, haematology, rats, serum bio-markers, Tephrosia purpurea, toxicity This article is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/2.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.