The influence of different concentrations of aqueous green tea extract on methotrexate induced haematological toxicity in rats

Abstract

Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist is widely used for the treatment of a variety of tumors. In the present study, the possible protective effect of aqueous green tea extract (AGTE) in methotrexate-induced haematotoxicity was investigated.
Four main groups of white Albino rats were used: control group, (MTX) group, following a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg, i.p.) saline was administered for 5 days. (AGTE) group, was treated with 1.25% concentration of AGTE only for 12 days and the (MTX+AGTE) group, in thism group rats received different concentrations of AGTE (0.625, 1.25 and 2.5%), as their sole source of drinking water, 7days before and 5 days after MTX treatment. MTX induced significant decreases in RBC, Hb, Hct, WBC and platelets. Whereas increased MCV and MCH. Moreover, the concentrations of AGTE play a major role.
The best protective effects of AGTE treatment were observed at the concentration 1.25% While 0.625% and 2.5% AGTE had no protective effects on haematological parameters.