Applied Medical Research. 2016;
4(1):(39-154)
Comparison of the protective nature of antioxidants on stored erythrocytes
Soumya Ravikumar, Vani Rajashekharaiah
Abstract
Erythrocytes undergo oxidative damage during storage which overwhelms their antioxidant defense system. The employment of antioxidants as additives during storage could protect erythrocytes against storage induced oxidative stress. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of antioxidants (Vitamin C, L-carnitine and Curcumin) on osmotic stress in erythrocytes of stored blood. Blood was obtained from male Wistar rats (4 months old) during the year 2015 and stored for up to 25 days at 4 ºC in CPDA-1 solution. Samples were divided into 10 groups (n=5) with and without antioxidants (Vitamin C, L-carnitine and Curcumin) at concentrations of 10mM, 30mM and 60mM. Erythrocytes were isolated from stored blood every fifth day and the effects of storage on osmotic fragility and membrane sulfhydryls were studied. Osmotic fragility varied significantly in controls. Osmotic fragility increased in 0.3% and 0.4% BSS during storage in VC 10, VC 30, all LC groups, Cur 10 and Cur 60. Osmotic fragility levels were similar in Cur 30. Sulfhydryls were insignificant in VC groups, while it incremented in LC 30 against controls. Cur groups showed decreases in sulfhydryls. L-carnitine at 30mM decreased osmotic stress at 0.4% and increased sulfhydryls. The addition of L-carnitine showed maximum storage of 20 days and is a good candidate for further studies on erythrocytes during blood storage.
