Diospyros lotus L. fruit extract protects G6PD-deficient erythrocytes from hemolytic injury in vitro and in vivo: prevention of favism disorder

Favism is a life-threatening hemolytic crisis that can result from the ingestion of fava beans by susceptible individuals who have G6PD enzyme deficiency (1). The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of Diospyros lotus L. fruits extract against the hemolytic damage induced by fava beans extract in both G6PD enzyme-deficient human and rat erythrocyte in vitro and in vivo models. in vitro model, venous blood samples were obtained from five subjects with known G6PD deficiency, which was also confirmed with standard techniques. Erythrocyte hemolysis was induced by fava beans extract in the presence and absence of Diospyros lotus fruits extract. The hemoglobin release in the supernatant, as well as the value of the hematocrit was determined by recording optical density at 540nm in a spectrophotometer and microhematocrit, respectively.in vivo model, G6PD enzyme deficiency was induced in rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) (100mg/kg), a specific G6PD enzyme inhibitor, for 35 consecutive days (2). Then the animals were pre-treated with different doses of Diospyros lotus (500, 750, 1000, and 1500mg/kg) by oral administration for seven consecutive days after induction of G6PD deficiency. Rats were administered orally on the seventh day with Vicia faba beans extract (40mg/kg b.w.), the blood was removed for evaluation of its value of erythrocyte hemoglobin and hematocrit after one hour. Our results have shown that Diospyros lotus fruits extract with an antioxidant activity has protective effect against hemolytic damage induced by fava beans extract in both G6PD-deficient human and rat erythrocytes.

Acknowledgement: The in vitro modeling of this investigation was the subject of Pharm. D thesis of Emran Habibi as a student of the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. This research was supported by a grant from the Research Council of Mazandaran University of Medical

Sciences.

References: 1. Neto EC et al. (1993) Hum Genet 91: 293–294.

2. Mc-Intosh MK (1993)J Nutrition 123: 216–224.