Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Asmarya Islamic University, Libya.
2
Department of Biology, College of Education. Omar Al-Mukhtar University. Al-Bayda, Libya
3
Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, University of Al-Merqeb, Libya.
4
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
5
Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.
10.21608/eajbsc.2025.458333
Abstract
This study evaluated the chronic effects of turmeric root extract (Curcuma longa L.) at varying doses on hematological, hepatic, and renal parameters in male hamsters over a period of 60 days. A total of 32 hamsters were divided into four groups of 8 hamsters each: a control group and three treatment groups received 750, 1000, & 1500mg/kg of the extract orally, once daily for 60 days. A wide range of parameters was assessed, including red blood cell (RBC) indices, white blood cell (WBC) counts, and immune indicators, as well as platelet indices and liver and kidney function tests. The results showed that low (750) and moderate (1000) doses of turmeric extract led to improvements in certain hematological and immunological parameters. However, high dose (1500mg/kg) was associated with significant alterations in RBC volume and hemoglobin (Hb) content (decreased the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), indicating a potential adverse effect on RBC quality. Platelet counts (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) were significantly increased in all treated groups. An increase in liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) across all treated groups, with a significant elevation in ALT at 1500mg/kg dose, reflected hepatic stress. However, no changes in total bilirubin (T. Bil) or albumin (ALB) were observed, indicating the liver retained much of its synthetic and detoxifying functions. Kidney function tests showed a significant rise in blood urea (BU) levels at 1000 mg/kg dose, but creatinine (Crea) levels were statistically unchanged. These results suggest that turmeric extract provides hematological and immunomodulatory benefits at moderate doses. But chronic exposure to 1500mg/kg doses induced hepatic stress and undesirable hematological alterations, underscoring the need for careful evaluation of optimal dosage and duration of safety.
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