Chemical and Biochemical Studies un the possible influence of silymarin as a Growth promoting agent and its hePatocytoprotective action in experimental animals

Abstract

A comparative study among chickens administered oral contraceptive pills (synthetic steroid hormones), in doses (0.225 mg/Kg ration, 0.45 mg!kg ration & 0.9mg!Kg ration), chickens administered oral contraceptive pills with the previous doses plus silymarin, (19.6 mg/Kg B. W ), chickens administered silymarin alone, (19.6 mg/Kg) and the corresponding control for 25 & 40 days to evaluate body weight as well as liver status. It was found that contraceptives treatment led to significant increase in body weight , hepatocellular damage and impaired liver functions. Meanwhile silymarin treatment led to significant improvement in growth, increament in body weight, protection of hepatocytes and normalization of liver function. Silymarin may be used to cure poultry from anytoxic agents that infected liver. Also it may be an invitation to use certain medicinal plants as . anabolic agents· to improve growth and increase body weight.