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Abstract
Heat is the transfer of thermal energy from a hotter system to a cooler system through conduction, convection and radiation. Biomass smoke, produced from the combustion of wood, charcoal, crop residues, and animal dung, is a complex mixture of harmful pollutants including fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.), is a traditional and popular vegetable in many parts of the world regularly consumed as part of the normal diet, either fresh or after processing for its nutritional benefits. This study aims to investigate the histopathological and hematological protective effects of beetroot extract in heat and biomass smoke-induced pulmonary damage in Wistar Rats. Forty-nine (49) adult female rats were divided into seven groups (n=7), including control, heat-only, smoke-only, smoke + heat, heat + beetroot, smoke + beetroot and heat + treasmoke + treatment. The hematological results indicate that exposure to smoke alone caused a significant reduction in total white blood cell count, while other groups showed no such decline. Red blood cell and hemoglobin levels dropped notably in rats exposed to smoke and combined heat and smoke, but these values improved with beetroot pretreatment. Most red cell and platelet indices remained unchanged, though MPV and PLCR increased in the heat-only group and were normalized by beetroot extract. Overall, beetroot treatment effectively mitigated hematological disruptions induced by heat and smoke exposure. Histologically, Vascular and bronchiolar ulceration and interstitial inflammation were seen in the lung tissue of the smoke only, heat only and smoke + treatment respectively. Animals in the beetroot treated groups had normal alveoli, bronchiolar dilation and bronchiolar ulceration (heat + beetroot, smoke + beetroot and heat + smoke + beetroot respectively. Beetroot treatment markedly restored WBC, RBC, HGB, and HCT levels and normalized platelet indices, demonstrating its hematoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. These protective actions are attributed to beetroot’s rich composition of betalains, polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary nitrates, which enhance nitric oxide bioavailability, scavenge reactive oxygen species, and suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines. Beetroot extract therefore shows promise as a natural, affordable antioxidant remedy against heat and biomass smoke-induced hematological toxicity.
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