The
metabolic disease favism is an acute
hemolytic anemia.
Anise oil was obtained from Pimpinella anisum L. seeds (family Apiaceae). The objective of this study was to establish the protective effect of
anise oil in
favism disorders. Forty-eight male albino rats were divided into six groups: group 1 orally administrated 1 mL distilled water, group 2 orally received 300 mg/kg
anise oil, and group 3 orally administrated 100 mg/kg
anethole over a seven-day period, group 4
favism-induced rats, group 5 orally administrated 300 mg/kg
anise oil and group 6 orally administrated 100 mg/kg
anethole once a day over a seven-day period prior to
favism induction. The result obtained revealed that
oral administration of either
anise oil or
anethole into normal rats over a seven-day period did not induce any change. Following
favism induction,
hemoglobin, hematocrit, red and white blood cell counts, serum
glucose, blood glutathione,
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, total
protein,
globulin,
alanine and
aspartate aminotransferases levels were significantly decreased, while serum
alkaline phosphatase and
bilirubin showed significant increase. Pretreatment with either
anise oil or
anethole into
favism-induced rats prevented these changes.
Favism also induced
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and prior treatment of
anise oil maintained liver
DNA content. These results were supported by histopathological evaluation. In conclusion,
anise oil pretreatment into
favism-induced rats decreased the
favism disorders, and this effect was related to the
anethole ingredient of the oil.