Antioxidant rich diet supplements (Spirulina and tamarind fruit pulp) mitigate hematological disorders in fluoride exposed mice

Abstract

The effect of antioxidant rich diet supplements of Spirulina and tamarind fruit pulp at 230 mg kg⁻¹ body weight, separately as well as in combination, on various hematological parameters of Swiss albino mice exposed to fluoride for seven days at daily doses of 190 mg kg⁻¹ body weight and for 90 days at daily doses of 94 mg kg⁻¹ body weight is reported. Compared with controls, fluoride exposure decreased erythrocyte (12%–18%), leukocyte (16%) and platelet counts (7%, only for short-term exposure), hemoglobin (2%–17%) and packed cell volume (2%–14%) in Swiss albino mice reared on standard feed but these were altered little in the diet supplement groups. Fluoride exposure decreased lymphocytes in both standard feed (16%–21%) and diet supplement groups (5%–19%, but only after long-term exposure). Fluoride withdrawal led to recovery of the post-treated mice from long-term exposure. Spirulina alone and also in combination with tamarind fruit pulp was found more effective than tamarind alone in reducing hematological disorders in fluoride treated mice.

Keywords:

• fluoride
• hematology
• Spirulina
• Swiss albino mice
• tamarind

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi for awarding fellowships to Dr Shweta Sharma (WOS-A/LS-194/2010), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi for senior research fellow to N. Yadav and A. Pandey, respectively.