Abstract:
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.
