Ameliorative role of piperine against malachite green-induced haematological alterations in male wistar rats

Malachite green, an azo dye widely used in aquaculture, textile and biomedical industries—and illicitly as a food colourant—has been associated with serious health hazards including allergic reactions, genotoxicity, carcinogenesis and biochemical disruptions. In this study, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of piperine (P), a bioactive alkaloid from Piper longum, against haematological alterations in male Wistar rats exposed to malachite green toxicity. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into six experimental groups (n = 6 per group). The group I received Malachite Green (MG) alone at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight (1/10 LD₅₀). The animals in group II (MG+P100) and III (MG+P200) were co-administered MG (30 mg/kg body weight) with piperine at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The animals in IV (P100) and V (P200) groups were administered piperine alone at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The VI group received a standard diet and drinking water ad libitum and served as the control. MG induced significant toxic changes were reported in this study, characterized by reduced platelet count, red blood cells and haemoglobin. The animal of group- I showed a significant increase in % neutrophils (p<0.05) and decrease in % lymphocyte (p<0.01) as compared to control (group VI). Piperine supplementation reversed the MG-induced shifts in neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages. The concurrent administration of Piperine substantially counteracted the effects, preserving haematological parameters close to those of the control group. Thus, the present study concludes that Piperine exhibits a protective effect against MG-induced haematological toxicity in Wistar rats.