Protective effects of Emblica officinalis Gaertn. in cyclophosphamide-treated mice.
Cyclophosphamide (CP) is one of the most popular alkylating anticancer drugs in spite of its toxic side effects including immunotoxicity, hematotoxicity, mutagenicity and a host of others. The present study was undertaken to assess the protective effects of total aqueous extract of a medicinal plant, Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) in mice treated with CP. These protective effects were studied on immunological parameters and kidney and liver antioxidants. Plant extract treatment at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight per os (p.o.) for 10 days resulted in the modulation of these parameters in normal as well as CP (50 mg/kg)-treated animals. Plant extract in particular was very effective in reducing CP-induced suppression of humoral immunity. Plant extract treatment in normal animals modulated certain antioxidants of kidney and liver. In CP-exposed animals, plant pretreatment provided protection to antioxidants of kidney. Not only were the reduced glutathione levels significantly (p<0.001) increased but plant extract treatment resulted in restoration of antioxidant enzymes in CP-treated animals. It is suggested that E. officinalis or its medicinal preparations may prove to be useful as a component of combination therapy in cancer patients under CP treatment regimen.
Haque
R
R
Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi, India.
Bin-Hafeez
B
B
Ahmad
I
I
Parvez
S
S
Pandey
S
S
Raisuddin
S
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D029842:Phyllanthus emblica / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000975:Antioxidants; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003520:Cyclophosphamide