PeerJ (Dec 2023)

Hematopoietic effect of echinochrome on phenylhydrazine-induced hemolytic anemia in rats

  • Mona S. E. F. El-Shehry,
  • Rafa A. Amrymi,
  • Tarek Atia,
  • Bassant M. M. Lotfy,
  • Salma H. A. Ahmed,
  • Sarah A. Qutb,
  • Sara B. Ali,
  • Ayman S. Mohamed,
  • Mohamed R. Mousa,
  • Ahmed A. Damanhory,
  • Mostafa E. Metawee,
  • Hader I. Sakr

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16576
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11
p. e16576

Abstract

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Background Hemolytic anemia (HA) is a serious health condition resulting from reduced erythrocytes’ average life span. Echinochrome (Ech) is a dark-red pigment found in shells and spines of sea urchins. Aim Studying the potential therapeutic effect of Ech on phenylhydrazine (PHZ)-induced HA in rats. Methods Eighteen rats were divided into three groups (n = 6): the control group, the phenylhydrazine-induced HA group and the Ech group, injected intraperitoneally with PHZ and supplemented with oral Ech daily for 6 days. Results Ech resulted in a considerable increase in RBCs, WBCs, and platelets counts, hemoglobin, reduced glutathione, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase levels, and a significant decrease in aspartate & alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, urate, malondialdehyde & nitric oxide levels in anemic rats. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissue samples showed marked improvement. Conclusion Ech ameliorated phenylhydrazine-induced HA with a hepatorenal protective effect owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

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