Protective Effects of Dioscorea Alata L. in Aniline Exposure-Induced Spleen Toxicity in Rats: A Biochemical Study

INTRODUCTION: Present study was designed to evaluate the protective effects of ethanolic extract of Dioscorea alata L. (DA) on hematological and biochemical changes in aniline-induced spleen toxicity in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats of either sex (200–250g) were used in the study and each group contains six rats. Splenic toxicity was induced in rats by administration of aniline hydrochloride (AH; 100 ppm) in drinking water for a period of 30 days. Treatment groups received DA (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, po) along with AH. At the end of treatment period, various serum and tissue parameters were evaluated. RESULT: Rats administered with AH (100 ppm) in drinking water for 30 days showed a significant alteration in general parameters (organ weight, body weight, water intake, feed consumption, and fecal matter content), hematological parameters (red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin content), and biochemical parameters (total iron content, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) content) of spleen. Treatment with DA (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, po) for 30 days along with AH showed significant recovery in aniline-induced splenic toxicity. CONCLUSION: The present result showed that involvement of oxidative and nitrosative stress in aniline-induced splenic toxicity and DA protects the rats from the toxicity, which might be due to its antioxidant property and the presence of different phytochemicals.