Abstract
Wheat germ oil (WGO) is a natural source of antioxidant such as glucosylated hydroquinones, tocopherols and it is an excellent source of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The point of the present study is to see how efficient is the WGO against phenylhydrazine (PHZ) induced hemotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into five groups (six rats each); control group (normal rats), WGO group (administrated by daily oral dose of WGO, 300 mg/kg b.w.), PHZ group (injected intraperitoneally with a daily dose of PHZ, 60 mg/kg b.w. for 3 consecutive days), treated group (injected with PHZ then after 3 days administered by WGO) and protective group (administrated daily by WGO for 11 days then injected with PHZ). The experimental trial was continued for a total period of 14 days. The results showed that the PHZ induced significant decreases in hematological parameters (RBCs, Hb, Hct, PLT), serum proteins (total protein, albumin and globulin) and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPX and SOD) activity and significant increases in white blood cells (WBCs), erythropoietin hormone, serum ferritin level, serum liver function parameters (ALT, AST, TBIL and ALP), serum kidney function parameters (creatinine, urea and uric acid) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Administration of WGO improved the hematological parameters, erythropoietin hormone, ferritin level, serum proteins, liver function enzymes, kidney function parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities and MDA content in rats injected with PHZ. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that the WGO has a therapeutic and protective roles in improving the hemolytic anemia and toxicity induced by PHZ.

Key words: Phenylhydrazine; Anemia; Wheat germ oil; Hematological parameters; Erythropoietin hormone.