Possible Protective Role of Aqueous Tomato Extract on Hemato-Biochemical Parameters against Sodium Arsenite Toxicity in Albino Rats

Abstract

Due to rapid industrialization and technological development, humans are constantly exposed to heavy metals at minimum to maximum tolerable levels. Arsenic is ubiquitously distributed and most concerned element now-a-days, inorganic arsenicals mainly enter into the body via the route of lungs and gastrointestinal tract and 55-95% of it gets absorbed. Sodium arsenite poisoning leads to disturbance in hematological and biochemical processes. In the present study, toxic effects of sodium arsenite on the hematological parameters, serum transaminases and possible modulatory role of aqueous tomato extract were studied. Female rats were allocated into four different groups: 1. Control (given normal diet), 2. Sodium arsenite treated (10mg/kg B.W.), 3. Combination of sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg B.W.) and aqueous tomato extract (50 mg/kg B.W.) treated rats 4. Only aqueous tomato extract treated (50mg/kg B.W.) rats. It was observed that arsenic significantly decreased the total erythrocytes count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit value (HCT) and platelets (PLT), whereas significantly elevated the total leucocytes count (TLC) and activities of serum transaminases such as ALT and AST. Supplementation of aqueous tomato extract to arsenic treated rats showed decrease in values of WBC, ALT and AST which almost matched to values of control rats. So, from this study it can be concluded that antioxidants and vitamins present in the aqueous tomato extract showed protective role against arsenic toxicity in albino rats.