ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Taurine and/or Camel Milk Mitigates Haemolysis and Malondialdehyde Concentration in Alzheimer Rats

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, affecting all age groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and haemolysis are important oxidative stress biomarkers, implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. The study aimed to evaluate taurine, camel milk (CM) and their combined effects on MDA concentration and haemolysis in AD rats. The animal groupings were; Normal saline (0.2 mL/mg bw); AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg); CM (33 mL/kg); Taurine (50 mg/kg); AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg) + CM (33 mL/kg); AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg) + Taurine (50 mg/kg) and AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg) + CM (33 mL/kg) + Taurine (50 mg/kg). Concentration of MDA and percentage haemolysis were determined for all groups. At 0.5% NaCl, haemolysis in AD rats (64.00 ± 1.27 %) was higher (p < 0.05) than in AD + CM (51.50 ± 2.96 %) and AD + CM + Taurine (52.00 ± 1.53%) rats. MDA concentration was lowered (p < 0.05) in taurine-treated rats than controls, but it increased with haemolysis in AD rats compared to other groups. Taurine and/or CM exhibited antioxidant activity by decreasing haemolysis and MDA concentration in AD groups, and may be beneficial in mitigating AD-induced oxidative stress changes.