We used 30 healthy male and female Swiss albino rats of Wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus), with a mean body weight of 200–250. The animals were maintained on standard diets and water ad libitum. They were housed under standard conditions of temperature (22–25°C), 12/12­h light/dark cycle, ventilation and hygiene. After 1­week, the rats were randomly divided into three groups of 10 animals each.