Camel's milk protects against aluminum chloride-induced normocytic normocromic anemia, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in erythrocytes of white albino rats

Problem statement: Aluminum (Al) is an indifferent element from a toxicological point of view. In recent years, however, Al has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several clinical disorders. One of the most frequently described problem in aluminum toxicity is anemia. The present study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of Camel's milk in alleviating the toxicity of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) on certain hematological parameters, lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress enzyme in the RBC's of white albino rats. Approach: Ten rats per group were divided into three treatment groups: Group one were rats given normal saline and served as control group, group two were rats treated with 1 ml of AlCl3 (0.5 mg kg-1 body weight) and named AlCl3 treated rats, group 3 were rat treated with 1ml fresh camel's milk 10 min before the administration of AlCl3 (0.5 mg kg-1 body weight) and named Camel's milk and AlCl3 treated rats. Rats were orally administered their respective doses every day for 30 days. Evaluations were made for hematological parameters in the blood and for lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress enzymes activities in the RBC's. Results: Results obtained showed that oral AlCl3 treatment caused a significant decrease (p<0.05) in total erythrocytes count, blood Hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrite (PCV) and Serum iron levels, where as the values of Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Hemoglobin Concentration (MHC), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and Total Ion Binding Capacity (TIBC) didn't change. Also oral administration of AlCl3 induced free radicals and as a result caused an increase the concentration of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) and decreased activities of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalsae (CAT) in the RBCs homolysate. The oral administration of Camel's milk before the administration of AlCl3, alleviated it's toxic effect. Camel's milk administration resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in the in total erythrocytes count, blood hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrite (PCV) and Serum iron with No change in the values of MCV, MHC, MCHC and TIBC when compared to AlCl 3 treated rats. Camel's milk reduced free radicals production and oxidative stress status in the RBC's noticed by the significant decreased levels of TBARS and increased activities of SOD and CAT when compared to AlCl3 treated rats. Conclusion: our data proved that there is an alternation in the hematological parameters and antioxidant system in the red blood cells of rats administered aluminum chloride orally, whereas oral administration of Camel's milk prior the administration of Aluminum chloride protects the red blood cell form toxic effect of aluminum. © 2009 Science Publications.