Antibiotic-induced alterations in the osmotic resistance of erythrocytes is modulated by β-carotene and L -ascorbic acid

Abstract

Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin and Norfloxacin are potent anti-microbials. These antibiotics, besides affecting bacteria, also exert toxic effects on mammalian cells. The present work was undertaken to study the effect of these antibiotics on the osmotic fragility profile of erythrocytes and the protective role played by vitamin supplementation, which exerts a stabilizing effect on the erythrocytes making them more resistant to lysis under hypotonic stress. The protective effect of β-carotene and L-ascorbic acid was significant (p < 0.01) at 0.1 mM and 0.01 mM concentrations. No significant effect was observed at lower concentrations. The free radical scavenging activity and effect of these vitamins on membrane fluidity and permeability may explain the protective role against the damage induced by the antibiotics on the erythrocytes membrane.