Evaluating of β-carotene role in ameliorating of favism-induced disturbances in blood and testis

Abstract

Abstract Background Favism is an acute hemolytic anemia occurs in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PD) deficient individuals. β-Carotene occurs in vegetables such as carrots. This study aimed to establish the therapeutic effect of β-carotene to rebalance the testicular and blood proteins disturbances in favism. Methods Forty-eight male rats were divided into six equal groups; Groups 1, 2 and 3: normal rats were daily oral administrated with 1 ml saline, 1 ml corn oil and β-carotene (60 mg/kg dissolved in 1 ml corn oil), respectively, once a day over 15 days period. Group 4 (favism-induced group): normal rats injected intraperitoneal (ip) with diethyl maleate (5 μl/rat) and after 1 h injected ip with 1/3 LD50 of faba beans ethanolic extract for 15 day to induce favism. Groups 5 and 6: favism-induced rats were daily oral administered with 30 and 60 mg/kg β-carotene dissolved in 1 ml corn oil, respectively, once a day over 15 days. Results The results revealed that oral administration of corn oil or β-carotene into normal rats over 15 days period did not induce any change. In favism-induced groups, hematological parameters, liver function, serum glucose, G6-PD, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones and sex-hormone binding globulin showed significant increase. Moreover, serum testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testicular G6-PD, 3β-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase, cholesterol and total protein were decreased. Treatment with both doses of β-carotene into favism groups restored all the abovementioned parameters to approach normal values. Favism inhibited blood proteins while β-carotene treatment into favism group stopped blood cells damage and blood proteins inhibition. These results were supported by histological studies. Conclusions In conclusion, taken β-carotene into favism group abolished testicular and blood proteins disturbances and this effect was dose dependent.