Role of nicotine and camellia sinensis on the developing femur of chick.

OBJECTIVE To study the harmful effects of nicotine on the developing femur of chick and to observe the role of antioxidant camellia sinensis in the prevention of these effects. METHODS The experimental study was conducted at Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, from November 2, 2011, to November 1, 2012, and comprised fresh fertilised eggs of Fayoumi species at zero hour of incubation of Fayoumi species. The eggs were divided into four equal groups. Control group G1 was given normal saline; G2 was given green tea extract; G3 was given 0.0001% nicotine solution; and G4 was given both 0.0001% nicotine solution and green tea extract. First exposure was at 48 hours of incubation and second at 48 hours of hatching (post-natal dose).At the age of one month, the chicks were sacrifised. The length of the femurs was measured with the help of measuring scale by keeping the ruler between greater trochanter and the lateral condyle. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The four groups had 10 eggs each. G3 and G4 showed decreased growth compared to G1 and G2 (p<0.05). In G4, better growth was noticed compared to G3 (p<0.05), but its growth was less in comparison with G1 and G2(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Camellia sinensis antioxidant property helped to neutralise the oxidative injury by the use of nicotine, but was unable to recover it fully.