Protective effect of Solanum tuberosum against the breakdown of red blood cells: an experimental study in burn injury model

Introduction: Anemia is known to be an important problem in burn injury. We aimed to investigate the protective effect of Solanum tuberosum (potatoes), against abnormal breakdown of erythrocytes in burn injury.Methods: Ninety-six male (۹ to ۱۰ weeks old) Swiss Albino mice (۳۴–۴۰ g) were included into the study, which consisted of two phases: dose optimization phase (n = ۴۸) and study phase (n = ۴۸). Half of the mice were given S. tuberosum juice (study group) and the other half drinking water (control group). The optimal dosage causing minimum decline in hematocrit was as follows: ۱.۶ mL/kg at ۰ h, ۰.۸ mL/kg at ۲۴ hours, and ۰.۸ mL/kg at ۳۶ hours of burn injury. The burn injury was induced with a solid ۱۰-mm aluminum bar heated in boiling water.Results: The decrease in hematocrit level was significantly lower in the study group than the control group at ۲۴ and ۴۸ hours (P = ۰.۰۵ and P = ۰.۰۲۳, respectively). The increase in anisocytosis, a hemolytic anemia sign, was also significantly lower in the study group than the control group at ۴۸ hours (P = ۰.۰۲۱). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of clotting time or the bleeding time.Conclusion: In burn injury, S. tuberosum may be beneficial against anemia and it may reduce the need for red blood cell transfusion.