Scientific basis of the combination of Coca-Cola drink and tomato paste in the management of anaemia

Abstract

Anaemia is a global health problem affecting people of all works of life. Anaemia has a lot of adverse effects hence the need for a cost-effective and better treatment strategy. Ethnopharmacological information indicates the use of the combination of Coca-Cola drink and tomato paste to manage anaemia in Ghana. The study investigated the effect of the combination of Coca-Cola drink and tomato paste on haemoglobin levels using animal models. 20 male Wistar rats were grouped as normal, 2,4-DNPH only, Coca-Cola drink only (0.5 ml Coca-Cola drink/100 gm b. wt./day), tomato paste only (20 mg tomato paste/100 gm b. wt./day) and combination of Coca-Cola drink and tomato paste (0.5 ml Coca-Cola drink/100 gm b. wt./day and 20 mg tomato paste/100 gm b. wt./day) with 4 animals in each group. Animals in other groups apart from the normal group were injected with 2,4-DNPH consecutively for 7 days (2 mg/100 gm w.bt/day i.p,). Animals in 2,4-DNPH only group were sacrificed on the 8^th day. All animals in the remaining groups were maintained till the 21^st day. Body weight was significantly reduced (p˂0.05) in all groups with 2,4-DNPH injection in the first 7 days. From the 8^th-21^st day, body weight was significantly gained (p˂0.05) in the combination of Coca-Cola drink and tomato paste group. Haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count and packed cell volume were not significantly reduced in the 2,4-DNPH only group. However, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count and packed cell volume were significantly increased (p˂0.05) in the tomato paste only group and in the combination of Coca-Cola drink and tomato paste group. Conclusively, a combination of Coca-Cola drink and tomato paste had a significant increase on the haemoglobin levels indicating some haematinic and anti-anaemic potential.