p-Coumaric acid as a potent additive in blood storage solution

Introduction and aim. Stored erythrocytes develop lesions involving changes in their structure and function reducing their efficacy. Oxidative Stress (OS) being one of the main causes of storage lesion, can be attenuated by antioxidants as additives in the storage solution. This study aims to evaluate the effect of p-Coumaric acid (CA) on erythrocytes during whole blood storage. Material and methods. Blood collected from Male Wistar rats was stored at 4°C in CPDA-1 solution for 21 days. Blood samples were stored with and without 1mM CA (CA 1) and 10 mM CA (CA 10). The erythrocytes were isolated every week during storage and the biomarkers for OS and antioxidant status were analysed. Results. Superoxide dismutase and catalase elevated on day 14. Conjugate dienes decreased in CA 10 on day 14. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances increased on day 7 and decreased on day 14 in CA groups. Protein sulfhydryls decreased in controls and CA 1 on day 14 whereas, it was maintained in CA 10. Conclusion. Coumaric acid upregulated the antioxidant enzymes and protected the cells from oxidative damage. Thus, coumaric acid can be employed as a potent additive during storage and opens new avenues of employing it in similar OS situations in erythrocytes.