Black Raisins Improved Experimentally Induced Iron Deficiency Anemia. Biochemical and Histological Evidence
Fadia A. Abu Zaid
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Pre-Clinical Studies Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Eman A. Abduljawad
Food and Nutrition Department, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Haya M. Aljadani
Food and Nutrition Department, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Nada M. Ali
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Albaha University, Albaha, Saudi Arabia.
Zuhair M. Mohammedsaleh
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Maha Ibrahim
Pre-Clinical Studies Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Soad S. Ali *
Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt and Scientific Chair of Yousef Abdullatif Jameel of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Seham K. Abunasef
Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Omar T. Ahmed
Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hanan A. Amin
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Soad K. Al Jaouni
Scientific Chair of Yousef Abdullatif Jameel of Prophetic Medicine Application, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Department of Hematology/Pediatric Oncology and YAJ Scientific Chair of Prophetic Medicine Applications, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Iron deficiency anemia is a challenging clinical problem with a profound impact on general health. Administration of iron-containing preparations were reported to be associated with many side effects. The current study aimed to evaluate black raisins’ therapeutic role against experimentally induced iron deficiency anemia in rats. Forty female rats were divided into 4 groups (n=10); control, anemia, anemia + iron, and anemia + raisins. Anemia was induced by bleeding and an iron-deficient diet for 4 weeks. Anemic rats were treated with ferric sulfate (200 mg/kg) or raisin extract (375 mg/kg) daily for 12 weeks. Complete blood count (CBC), blood films, body weight, splenic weight, and index were assessed. The spleens were processed and stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and immunohistochemically stained for CD3+ and CD68. Raisins contain a considerable amount of iron, vitamin B, phenolics, and flavonoid antioxidants. In raisins treated rats, CBC parameters displayed a significant increase compared to the anemic rats. Most of the RBCs in blood films showed normal shape, size, and central pallor. The spleen of raisins and iron-treated rats showed a marked increase in the area of white pulp. Their spleens also showed a significant increase in the CD3+ PALS area compared to anemic rats. Iron and raisins significantly decreased splenic CD68 macrophages. Consumption of black raisins could be considered an excellent natural source for flavonoids and iron to be used as an adjuvant supplement to iron for anemic patients with increased splenic T lymphocytes.
Keywords: Anemia, Raisins, macronutrients, flavonoids, spleen, histology