Angelica archangelica and Ginkgo biloba Extracts Recover Functional Blood Hemoglobin Derivatives in Rabbits Exposed to High Altitude

Bassem M Raafat; Amira M Gamal-Eldeen; Mazen M Almehmadi; Sherien M El-Daly; Nahla L Faizo; Fayez Althobaiti

doi:10.2174/1389201022666211118112356

Angelica archangelica and Ginkgo biloba Extracts Recover Functional Blood Hemoglobin Derivatives in Rabbits Exposed to High Altitude

Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2022;23(11):1377-1382. doi: 10.2174/1389201022666211118112356.

Authors

Bassem M Raafat¹, Amira M Gamal-Eldeen^{2

3}, Mazen M Almehmadi², Sherien M El-Daly^{4

5}, Nahla L Faizo¹, Fayez Althobaiti^{3

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099,Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia.
³ High Altitude Research Center, Prince Sultan Medical Complex, Al-Hawiyah, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St. Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt.
⁵ Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St. Dokki, Cairo, 12622, Egypt.
⁶ Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 34792008
DOI: 10.2174/1389201022666211118112356

Abstract

Background: Shortage of oxygen is a common condition for residents of high-altitude (HA) areas. In mammals, hemoglobin (Hb) has four derivatives: oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O²), carboxyhemoglobin (Hb-CO), sulfhemoglobin (Hb-S), and methemoglobin (Met-Hb). In HA areas, aberrant physiological performance of blood hemoglobin is well-established.

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the influence of 30 days of HA residence on rabbits' total Hb, Hb derivatives, Hb autooxidation rate, and antioxidant enzymes in comparison to low-altitude control rabbits. Further, the study aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidant-rich Angelica archangelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extracts on the same parameters in HA-resident rabbits.

Methods: Rabbits subjected to 30 days of HA residence were compared to low-altitude control rabbits. HA-residence rabbits were then orally administered 0.11 g/kg b.wt. of Angelica archangelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extract for 14 days. Hb derivatives and Hb autooxidation rate were measured spectrophotometrically. Antioxidant enzymes were estimated using specialized kits.

Results: Compared to low-altitude rabbits, 30-day HA-residence rabbits showed a noticeable increase (p<0.05) in Hb-O2 and Hb-CO concentration. In addition, Met-Hb concentration, autooxidation rate of Hb molecules, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) exhibited a remarkable increase in HA-residence rabbits (p<0.01), reflective of rapid ROS generation. In HA-residence rabbits, both individual and combined treatment with antioxidant-rich extracts for 14 days resulted in recovery to near-normal functional levels of Hb-O2 and Met-Hb, Hb autooxidation rate, and activities of SOD and GPx, while only combined treatment led to Hb-O₂ recovery.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that functional Hb levels may be recovered by oral administration of A. archangelica, G. biloba, or combined treatments. In conclusion, oxidative stress due to living in HA areas may be avoided by supplementation with natural antioxidants.

Keywords: Angelica archangelica; Ginkgo biloba; Hemoglobin derivatives; high altitude; methemoglobin; oxyhemoglobin.

MeSH terms

Altitude
Angelica archangelica*
Animals
Antioxidants / pharmacology
Ginkgo biloba
Hemoglobins
Mammals
Plant Extracts / pharmacology
Rabbits
Superoxide Dismutase

Substances

Antioxidants
Hemoglobins
Plant Extracts
Ginkgo biloba extract
Superoxide Dismutase

Grants and funding

1-440-6174/High Altitude Research Center, Taif University, KSA