Evaluation of pomegranate rind (Punica granatum) hydroethanolic extract on blood parameters in male mice treated by Irinotecan Hcl

Irinotecan Hcl is the first order drug for some neoplasm treatment in patients. Irinotecan Hcl has side effects on blood such as anemia and leukopeny. The aim of this study was to evaluate erythropoetic effects of the pomegranate hydroethanolic extract were examined on mice which treated by irinotecan Hcl. In this experimental study, 49 male mice (25-30 g) were divided in 7 groups (control, sham, treated by irinotecan Hcl (100 mg/kg), treated by pomegranate extract (100 and 400 mg/kg, i.p, daily for one week) and treated by irinotecan Hcl plus pomegranate extract (100 and 400 mg/kg, i.p, daily for one week) randomly. Anemia induced by administration of irinotecan in the experimental animal. At the end of experiment the blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture method and analized for RBC, WBC, Hb, Hct parameters. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The results of this study showed that irinotecan has affected on blood factors and cause to significance decrese compared with control group (p<0.001). Also groups which treated with pomegranate extract (100 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduce the side effects of irinotecan and cause to increasing in blood factors (p<0.001). The number of WBC counts in the group which received Irinotecan (100 kg) significantly decreased as compared with the control group (p<0.001). Irinotecan affected on blood Hb level and cause to significant decrease compared with control group. Groups which received pomegranate extract (100 and 400 kg) had positive effect and significantly increased the blood Hb levels as compared to controls (p<0.001). These results showed that consumption of pomegranate rind extract in a dose-dependent manner has protective effect on blood parameters in mice which treated with Irinotecan Hcl.