Protective Role of Lycopene against Cadmium Induced Haematological Changes in Swiss Albino Mice

Cadmium is one of the toxic, hazardous metals widely dispersed in the environment in high levels. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of lycopene on hematological parameters in cadmium exposed mice. Albino mice were divided into four groups. Group I were control mice, group II received cadmium (0.32mg/kg bw) only, group III received olive oil (20mg/kg bw) only and group IV received an acute dose of cadmium followed by daily administration of lycopene (20mg/kg bw) for 15 days. On the day of autopsy blood samples were collected into ethylenediaminetetra acid (EDTA) bottles, for assessing hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell count (WBC) and WBC differentials, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). The results showed significant reduction in hemoglobin level, RBC and WBC count and all the hematological parameters in cadmium treated mice as compared to control. Administration of lycopene reversed almost all the abnormalities in the blood parameters showing significant protection against cadmium induced toxicity in mice. It is concluded that lycopene showed affordable protection against cadmium induced toxicity on blood profile.