Effect of Withania somnifera on cyclophosphamide-induced urotoxicity.
Administration of an extract from the plant Withania somnifera (Family: Solanaceae) (20 mg/dose/animal; i.p.) for five days along with cyclophosphamide (CTX) (1.5 mmol/kg body wt. i.p.) reduced the CTX induced urotoxicity. Morphological analysis of the bladders of the CTX-treated group showed severe inflammation and dark coloration whereas CTX along with the Withania-treated group showed normal bladder morphology. The extract was found to reduce the protein level in the serum (7.92 g/l) after 4 h of CTX treatment, which was higher in the CTX alone-administered group (11.44 g/l). Blood urea N2 level which was drastically enhanced (136.78 mg/100 ml) 2 after the CTX treatment was significantly reduced (52.08 mg/100 ml) when the animals were treated with Withania extract. Similarly the glutathione (GSH) content in both bladder (1.55 micromol/mg protein) and liver (3.76 micromol/mg protein) was enhanced significantly (P<0.001) in the Withania-treated group compared with the CTX alone-treated animals (bladder 0.5 micromol/mg protein; liver 1.2 micromol/mg protein) Histopathological analysis of the bladder of CTX alone-treated group showed severe necrotic damage where as the Withania somnifera-treated group showed normal bladder architecture.
Davis
L
L
Amala Cancer Research Centre, Amala Nagar, Kerala, India.
Kuttan
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019657:Solanaceae / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
D001798:Blood Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014508:Urea; D005978:Glutathione; D009584:Nitrogen