GREEN TEA EXTRACT INHIBITED LEAD ACETATE INDUCED HEMOLYTIC CHANGES IN RAT ERYTHROCYTES

Abstract

Lead (Pb++) is known to cause hemolytic changes in the erythrocytes. The objectives of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Green Tea extract on lead acetate induced erythrocyte hemolysis both in vitro and in vivo condition. Isolated erythrocytes from rat were incubated with lead acetate alone or in combination with Green Tea extract (GTE) for 90 mins at 37° C. Hemolysis was evaluated by estimating the % of haemoglobin in the supernatant. For in vivo experiment rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=5) and given only water, 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water and 0.1% Lead acetate + GTE (50 or 100 mgKg-1) continuously for 4 weeks. At the end of 4th week, blood was collected and analyzed. Spleens from all animal groups were processed for histopathological and biochemical analysis. Exposure of erythrocytes to lead acetate caused dose dependent increases in the extent of hemolysis and significant alteration in hematological profile in rats, whereas GTE supplementation minimized this effect. Spleen from lead treated rats exhibited severe histopathological lesions, whereas in GTE treated rats the severity of splenic lesion was less. Lipid peroxidation, a marker of oxidative stress was significantly higher in eryhthrocytes and splenic tissue of lead acetate treated rats and GTE abrogated this effect.The findings of the present study explain the beneficial effect of GTE supplementation in lead acetate induced hemolytic anaemia and subsequent histopathological effect on spleen of rat.