Protective effect of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) on glyphosate induced toxicity in body weight and selected organs of Kuroiler birds

Abstract

The present study evaluated the toxic effects of glyphosate and the ameliorative potential of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha/ Indian ginseng) powder on growth performance and organ integrity in kuroiler birds. A total of 75 birds were observed over a period of three months for changes in body weight and pathological alterations in the lungs, brain, spleen, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract (proventriculus, gizzard and intestine). Orally glyphosate-exposed birds exhibited a significant reduction (p<0.05) in body weight gain compared to control and Ashwagandha-supplemented groups. The growth suppression was associated with marked gross and histopathological lesions in the examined organs, indicating systemic cellular stress and tissue damage. In contrast, birds co-administered with Ashwagandha showed significant improvement in body weight and reduced severity of pathological alterations. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of liver, kidneys, brain and skeletal muscle samples did not detect residues of the parent glyphosate compound. This finding suggests possible rapid metabolism or elimination of glyphosate, or that tissue damage may be mediated by its metabolites rather than by persistence of the parent compound. The study demonstrates the systemic toxic potential of glyphosate exposure and highlights the protective efficacy of Ashwagandha as a natural ameliorative agent against herbicide-induced toxicity in poultry.