Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) combats lead's harmful blood effects.
Journal name: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
Original article title: Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato) Prevents Adverse Effects of Lead on Blood Constituents
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (MJMS) is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published online at least six times a year. It covers all aspects of medical sciences and prioritizes high-quality research.
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Emmanuel O SALAWU
The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences:
(A peer-reviewed, open-access journal)
Full text available for: Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato) Prevents Adverse Effects of Lead on Blood Constituents
Year: 2010
Copyright (license): CC BY 4.0
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Summary of article contents:
Introduction
Lead exposure is a significant public health concern due to its detrimental effects on human health, even at low levels of exposure. Sources of lead include contaminated dust, water from old lead pipes, and certain foods subjected to industrial pollution. Symptoms of lead poisoning, such as weight loss and anemia, are often non-specific and can go unnoticed in the early stages. Previous research has indicated that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in lead toxicity, prompting the exploration of antioxidants as potential mitigators of these adverse effects. This study investigates the protective effects of Lycopersicon esculentum, commonly known as tomato, against lead-induced blood parameter alterations in Wistar rats.
The Role of Tomato Paste in Mitigating Lead Toxicity
The study involved 56 adult male Wistar rats divided into four groups, with some receiving lead (II) acetate to induce toxicity and others being treated with tomato paste to evaluate its protective effects. Key findings indicated that lead exposure resulted in significant reductions in various hematological parameters, including red and white blood cell counts, as well as total serum protein levels. Conversely, tomato paste administration significantly counteracted these adverse effects, preventing the decreases in blood constituents and enhancing overall health indicators of the rats. This suggests that the antioxidants present in tomatoes can effectively mitigate the oxidative damage caused by lead exposure.
Conclusion
The findings of this study underscore the potential health benefits of incorporating antioxidant-rich foods, such as tomatoes, into the diet for individuals at risk of lead exposure. The oral administration of tomato paste demonstrated a protective effect against the detrimental impacts of lead on blood parameters in rats, highlighting the importance of dietary interventions in mitigating environmental toxicity. Future research may further explore the mechanisms behind these protective effects and the applicability of such interventions in human populations exposed to environmental toxins.
FAQ section (important questions/answers):
What was the objective of the lead toxicity study?
The study aimed to investigate how lead affects blood parameters and to determine if Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) could mitigate these adverse effects when administered orally as tomato paste.
What effects did lead exposure have on the rats?
Lead exposure resulted in significant weight loss and reductions in packed cell volume, red and white blood cell counts, and serum protein levels, while increasing neutrophil percentages and plasma malondialdehyde concentration.
How did tomato paste impact the effects of lead?
Oral administration of tomato paste significantly prevented the adverse effects of lead on various blood constituents, indicating its potential as a protective agent against lead toxicity.
How was the tomato paste prepared for the study?
The tomato paste was created by grinding tomatoes and heating them in a water bath at 80°C for about 45 to 60 minutes until a specific density was achieved, then stored at 4 °C.
Glossary definitions and references:
Scientific and Ayurvedic Glossary list for “Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) combats lead's harmful blood effects.”. This list explains important keywords that occur in this article and links it to the glossary for a better understanding of that concept in the context of Ayurveda and other topics.
1) Blood:
Blood is a vital bodily fluid responsible for transporting oxygen, nutrients, and waste products throughout the body. In the study, blood parameters such as packed cell volume, red and white blood cell counts were measured to assess the adverse effects of lead toxicity and the protective role of tomato paste against these effects.
2) Water:
Water is essential for life and serves as a medium for biological reactions in the body. In the study, control groups were given distilled water, while some groups were exposed to lead (II) acetate. Water also acts as a solvent, facilitating the absorption of nutrients and substances used during treatment operations.
3) Toxicity:
Toxicity denotes the harmful effects that a substance, like lead, can impose on living organisms. In this study, lead toxicity was investigated, particularly its impact on haematological and biochemical parameters, portraying the detrimental effects of heavy metals and the importance of antioxidants such as those in tomato paste to mitigate these effects.
4) Study (Studying):
The study refers to the systematic investigation performed to understand the impacts of lead on blood parameters in Wistar rats and the potential protective effects of tomato paste. Conducted over ten weeks, the study aimed to contribute to the understanding of lead toxicity and antioxidant intervention strategies.
5) Measurement:
Measurement in this context pertains to the process of quantitatively assessing various blood and biochemical parameters following exposure to lead and treatment with tomato paste. This measurement is crucial for evaluating the physiological impacts and effectiveness of the antioxidant intervention, ultimately helping in the scientific interpretation of the results.
6) House:
The term 'House' relates to the animal house where the rats were kept during the study. It refers to the controlled environment necessary for breeding and experimenting with laboratory animals, ensuring standard maintenance conditions that are compliant with ethical guidelines for humane treatment and proper experimental conduct.
7) Activity:
Activity here primarily relates to the biochemical activity measured during the study, specifically enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. These activities are crucial for evaluating the oxidative stress response and the protective efficiency of the antioxidants derived from tomato paste in countering lead-induced oxidative damage.
8) Relative:
Relative in this study context likely refers to relative measurements obtained during the analysis of parameters. Relative comparisons allow researchers to assess changes and signify difference in value reflecting the effects of lead versus antioxidant treatment, providing insight into the impact and efficacy of the interventions.
9) Animal:
Animal signifies the live subjects utilized for experimentation in this study, specifically the Wistar rats. This group of animals serves as a model to better understand the effects of toxic substances like lead on biological systems and the potential benefits of dietary interventions using natural antioxidants.
10) Reliability:
Reliability in this context pertains to the consistency and dependability of the measurements obtained during the study. High reliability is essential in scientific research to ensure that findings can be trusted and provide valid conclusions regarding the effects of lead and protective factors offered by tomato paste.
11) Heating:
Heating refers to the method used to prepare the tomato paste within this study. The heating process at specific temperatures is crucial as it enhances the bioavailability of beneficial compounds like lycopene and vitamins, making tomato paste a potentially effective antioxidant in combatting lead toxicity effects observed in the rats.
12) Science (Scientific):
Science denotes the systematic study that seeks understanding of natural phenomena. In this research, scientific principles are applied to investigate the effects of lead poisoning and explore the role of antioxidants, using controlled experiments to derive conclusions that can inform broader medical and environmental health contexts.
13) Filling (Filled):
Filled typically relates to the process of collecting blood samples for analysis. In the study, blood was carefully filled into marked tubes to ensure accurate measurement of various parameters, maintaining the integrity of the samples for reliable assessment of physiological changes due to lead exposure and antioxidant treatment.
14) Simha (Siṃha):
Sinha refers to the researcher credited with providing methods for measuring catalase activity, one of the critical biochemical parameters assessed in this study. The mention of Sinha underscores the reliance on established scientific techniques and literature to determine antioxidant activities, which is integral to validating the study's findings.
15) Field:
Field may refer to the domain of knowledge or context within scientific research where the study falls, as in the 'field' of toxicology or laboratory animal research. It contextualizes the significance of the research findings for understanding heavy metal toxicity and the potential therapeutic roles of dietary antioxidants.
16) Food:
Food signifies the nutritional substance provided to the rats. The diet plays an important role in animal studies as it can influence metabolic pathways and overall health. In this research, food quality and type, particularly the addition of tomato paste, is essential for examining how diet impacts lead toxicity effects.
17) Diet:
Diet refers to the specific nutritional regimen provided to the Wistar rats during the study. Adequate diet is crucial for health and recovery in experiments, emphasizing the importance of dietary interventions, like tomato paste, in aiding the prevention or alleviation of lead-induced detrimental effects observed in the blood parameters.
18) Fish:
Fish is mentioned to highlight a common food source known to contain trace lead levels due to environmental pollution. Its inclusion sheds light on the broader implications of lead exposure through diet, associating industrial activities and dietary habits with potential health risks, thus framing the necessity of protective food sources.
19) Hand:
Hand may indicate the methodologies and procedures adopted throughout the research process. Everything done in the study, from handling the rats to administering treatment, reflects the meticulous care and precision required in laboratory settings to ensure valid, reliable results and humane treatment of animal subjects.
20) Male (Mālē):
Male pertains to the sex of the rats chosen for the study. This specification is relevant since biological sex can influence physiological responses to toxins and treatments. Using male rats aims to eliminate variabilities introduced by sex and provide clearer insights into lead toxicity and dietary antioxidant efficacy.
Other Science Concepts:
Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) combats lead's harmful blood effects.’. Further sources in the context of Science might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:
Tomato, Control, Cooking, Weight, Memory loss, Medical science, Water-bath, Treatment, Adverse effect, Anaemia, Control group, Oral administration, Temperature, Specific gravity, Industrial pollution, Lipid peroxidation, SPSS, Vitamin C, Blood parameters, Antioxidant activities, Heavy metal, Antioxidant, RBC, Animal house, Total plasma protein, Packed cell volume, Red blood cell count, Albumin, Vitamin A, Level of significance, Distilled water, Animal research, National Institutes of Health, Haematocrit, Serum protein, Detoxification, Glutathione, Albumin and globulin, Serum, Total serum protein, Cervical dislocation, Malondialdehyde concentration, Oxidation, Catalase activities, Relative density, Biuret Method, Relative humidity, Immune system functioning, White blood cell count, Lycopene, Wistar rat, Lead toxicity, Biochemical marker, Red Blood Cell, White blood cell, Centrifugation, Cardiac puncture, Biochemical parameter, Tomato paste, Lycopersicon esculentum, Independent samples t-test, Blood sample, Plasma, Neutrophil, Lead poisoning, Average body weight, Evaluation of treatment, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Whole blood, Previous research, Monocyte, Lymphocyte, Level of lipid peroxidation, Plasma and serum, Blood constituents, Globulin level, Serum protein level, Sprague Dawley rat, Haematological parameter.
Concepts being referred in other categories, contexts and sources.