Influence of L-Carnitine on Stored Rat Blood: A Study on Plasma

Objective:

Plasma acts as a good indicator of oxidative stress in blood. L-Carnitine is an antioxidant that reduces metabolic stress in cells, thereby providing a protective effect against oxidative stress (OS). L-Carnitine as an additive in storage has not been explored. Thus, this study attempts to analyze the role of L-carnitine in blood storage solution, citrate phosphate dextrose adenine (CPDA)-1, through OS markers including antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation.

Materials and Methods:

Blood was collected from male Wistar rats and stored in CPDA-1 solution with L-carnitine (10 mM, 30 mM, and 60 mM: groups LC 10, LC 30, and LC 60, respectively) and without L-carnitine (control group). Plasma was isolated every 5th day and the OS markers were analyzed.

Results:

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and sulfhydryl (SH) increased over storage in controls, LC 30, and LC 60. Catalase increased in LC 30 and LC 60 during storage. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyl (PrC) levels in all groups increased initially and reduced towards the end of storage. SOD and SH levels were maintained while TBARS and PrC levels increased in LC 10.

Conclusion:

L-Carnitine was beneficial in terms of increased antioxidant capacity and SH and decreased lipid peroxidation. This forms the basis for further studies on L-carnitine as a constituent in storage solutions.

Prospects of curcumin as an additive in storage solutions: a study on erythrocytes

BACKGROUND/AIM

Curcumin, a naturally occurring antioxidant, shows a wide variety of medicinal properties. The possibility of utilizing curcumin as an additive in storage solutions of blood has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of curcumin on erythrocytes during storage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood obtained from rats was stored (4 °C) for 20 days in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1 solution. Samples were divided into four groups: 1) Controls; 2) Curcumin 10 mM; 3) Curcumin 30 mM; and 4) Curcumin 60 mM. Every fifth day, hemoglobin, superoxide, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)), lipid peroxidation (conjugate dienes and malondialdehyde (MDA)), protein oxidation (advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and sulfhydryls (P-SH)), and hemolysis were analyzed.

RESULTS

Hemoglobin was successfully maintained, while superoxide dismutase increased initially and decreased towards the end of storage. Superoxide, catalase, GSH-Px, conjugate dienes, and AOPP were lower in the curcumin groups than they were in the controls. MDA was higher in the curcumin groups than in the controls. P-SH increased in the curcumin groups, while hemolysis increased in all groups.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin maintained hemoglobin and modulated antioxidant enzymes throughout storage. However, curcumin could not protect all proteins and lipids from oxidative damage completely. This study opens up new avenues for using curcumin, in combination with other antioxidants, as a component in storage solutions.