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 (9 to 10 weeks old) Swiss Albino mice (34–40 g) were included into the study, which consisted of two phases: dose optimization phase (n = 48) and study phase (n = 48). 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: 1.6 mL/kg at 0 h, 0.8 mL/kg at 24 hours, and 0.8 mL/kg at 36 hours of burn injury. The burn injury was induced with a solid 10-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 24 and 48 hours (P = 0.05 and P = 0.023, respectively). The increase in anisocytosis, a hemolytic anemia sign, was also significantly lower in the study group than the control group at 48 hours (P = 0.021). 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.