Effect of Long-term Intake of Aspartame on the Hematological Parameters in Male and Female Albino Rats, and the Possible Ameliorative Effects of Garlic , Melatonin and Thymoquinone

Aspartame is a synthetic dipeptide, frequently used as nonnutritive sweetener in many worldwide countries. It is
used as a feed additive in diet food products and diet drink. Aspartame is used by diabetics and people in different diets.
There have been contradictory reports on the use of aspartame, that there are potential side effects associated with
aspartame consumption on many organs in the human and experimental animals. This study investigates the long-term
administration (six months) of aspartame on hematological parameter of male and female albino rats, and the possible role
of garlic, melatonin and thymoquinone in ameliorating the pathological changes induced by aspartame. Rats were
administrated with aspartame (40 mg/ kg/ body wt daily ) for six months in drinking water. Also rats were provided with
aspartame combined with garlic (10 mg/kg .body wt), with melatonin (10 mg/kg body wt.) and with thymoquinone (10
mg/kg body wt. ) daily for six months.
Results showed that administration of aspartame caused a significant increase in the number of red blood corpuscles
(RBCs) and a significant decrease of hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of both male and female rats .Also ,aspartame
resulted in a significant decrease in the number of white blood cells (WBCs ) and neutrophils .However ,a significant
increase in platelets ,lymphocytes ,monocytes ,basophiles and eosinophils was observed in male and female rats after
aspartame intake .
Administration of aspartame combined with garlic, with melatonin, with thymoquinone and with melatonin plus
thymoquinone much reduced the toxic effects of aspartame on the above mentioned parameters. They normalized the
values of the hematological parameters and restored them to the values similar to that of the control or near to it. These
findings demonstrate that garlic, melatonin and thymoquinone, as antioxidants, ameliorate the toxic effect of aspartame on
the blood parameters in male and female albino rats. This study concludes that aspartame (40 mg/kg.bw) intake for longterm
(six months) may cause oxidative stress by altering the oxidant/antioxidant balance in the blood parameters and the
supplementation of garlic , melatonin and thymoquinone, as antioxidants ameliorate the toxic effect of aspartame on blood
parameters in male and female rats.