title: Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato) Prevents Adverse Effects of Lead on Blood Constituents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lead is known for its adverse effects on various organs and systems. In this study, the ability of lead to adversely affect blood parameters was investigated, and Lycopersicon esculentum, or commonly known as tomato (a source of antioxidants), was administered orally in the form of tomato paste (TP) to reduce the adverse effects of lead.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 56 Wistar rats divided equally into 4 groups of 14 rats each: Control, LA(G), TP(G), and LA+TP(G). Control and TP(G) rats were given distilled water ad libitum, while LA(G) and LA+TP(G) rats were given 1% lead (II) acetate (LA) per day. TP(G) and LA+TP(G) rats were additionally treated with 1.5 ml of TP per day. All treatments lasted for 10 weeks, after which the rats were weighed and sacrificed, and haematological and biochemical parameters were measured. The independent samples t test was used to analyse the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LEAD CAUSED SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING PARAMETERS: weight; packed cell volume; red blood cell and white blood cell counts; the percentages of lymphocytes and monocytes; total serum protein, albumin, and globulin levels; and plasma superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. In contrast, lead caused a significant increase in the percentage of neutrophils and the plasma malondialdehyde concentration. TP, however, significantly prevented the adverse effects of LA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral administration of TP prevents the adverse effects of lead on blood constituents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Salawu