Ramakrishnan, V.Reddy, A. GopalaJagadeeswaran, A.Kumar, V. SureshVijayakumar, C.TANUVAS2017-12-182017-12-182015-11http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810037754TNV_KVSC_Y2015_14-15Nov_Pg536-539Free radicals are continuously produced by the body and are also generated through environ- mental pollution, radiation, drugs, chemicals, pesticides, etc. Oxidative damage by free radicals can be prevented by the use of antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, tocopherols, carotenoids and certain herbs. Of late, several herbs have been reported to counter the peroxidative stress due to several stress- ors. Keeping the above facts in view, an experimental study Was planned to evaluate the mechanism of iron-induced oxidative stress and injury to the biological system, and to evaluate the therapeutic po- tential of certain herbs and herbal combinations against experimental iron toxicosis in broilers. A total of 90 male broiler chicks (Cobb strain) of day-old age Were randomly divided into 6 groups consisting of 15 chicks in each group. Group 1 Was maintained as basal diet control and group 2 on ferrous sul- fate at 0.5% in feed throughout 6 Weeks as iron toxic control Without any treatment. Groups 3-6 Were maintained on FeSO4 at 0.5% in feed for the 4 Weeks (28 days) of study and thereafter administered with different herbs and their combinations for the remaining 2 week. The performance parameters were recorded at weekly intervals. Antioxidant defense profile were estimated at the end of 4th and 6th Week. Estimation of TBARS and GSH was done at the end of 6th Week. Iron treatment resulted in sig- nificant (P<0.05) reduction in body Weights, Weekly Weight gain, and GSH (6thWeek), while TBARS (6th week), SOD, catalase, were significantly (P<0.05) increased at the end of 4th Week in groups 2 to 6 and all these parameters exhibited similar trend at the end of 6th Week in iron toxic control group. Administration of herbs in groups 3 to 6 caused a marked improvement in all the above parameters as compared to those of iron toxic control group at the end of 6th Week. Thus, it is concluded that iron induces biological damage by means of oxidative stress and the herbs/herbal combination in test offered better ameliorationenVeterinary ScienceArticle