The effect of red pomegranate (Punica ganatum) peel extract on leukocyte number and type in rats exposed with mobile phone electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

Rakhmawati M, Qadriyati I, Wijayanti L. 2011. The effect of red pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract on leukocyte number and type in rats exposed with mobile phone electromagnetic radiation. Biofarmasi 9: 55-61. This research aimed to examine the effect of red pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract on leukocyte number and type in rats exposed with mobile phone electromagnetic radiation. This study was a laboratory experimental post-test only control group design. The subjects used were 32 male rats, divided into 4 groups: (i) control group, (ii) mobile phone electromagnetic radiation-exposed group for 4 hour/day for 14 days, (iii) mobile phone electromagnetic radiation-exposed group for 4 hour/ day for 14 days with red pomegranate peel extract 50 mg/kg weight body in pre and during exposed, and (iv) mobile phone electromagnetic radiation-exposed group for 4 hour/day for 14 days with red pomegranate peel extract 50 mg/kg body weight pre, during and post-exposed. After 41 days, blood was collected in a clean tube with EDTA from orbital sinus of rats. Blood was used for leukocyte number and type in Pathology Clinic Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Sebelas Maret University. The data obtained were statistically analyzed with independent t-test by using SPSS Program for Microsoft Windows release 16.0 with a significance level at p<0.05. The results showed that red pomegranate peel extract decrease the leukocyte number than only exposed to mobile phone electromagnetic radiation group. The treatment of red pomegranate peel extract decreased for eosinophil, lymphocyte and monocyte, while for neutrophil, the treatment of red pomegranate peel extract showed increase than only exposed with mobile phone electromagnetic radiation group. Statistical analysis with independent t-test showed that the result was significant between group 1 and 3, and between group 2 and 3 of leukocyte number, but no significant for other groups. Meanwhile, the result of independent t-test showed no significant between all groups of the type of leukocyte. The experiment result showed that red pomegranate peel extract can significantly decrease the leukocyte number in rats exposed with mobile phone electromagnetic radiation (p<0.05), but no significant for different count (p>0.05).