title: Immunoprotection by botanical drugs in cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: Most of the synthetic chemotherapeutic agents available today are immunosuppressants, cytotoxic, and exert variety of side effects that are particularly evident in cancer chemotherapy. Botanical based immunomodulators are often employed as supportive or adjuvant therapy to overcome the undesired effects of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents and to restore normal health. Total extract, polar and non-polar extracts, and their formulations, prepared from medicinal plants mentioned in Ayurveda, namely, Withania somnifera (Linn Dunal) (Solanaceae), Tinospora cordifolia (Miers) (Menispermaceae), and Asparagus racemosus (Willd.) (Liliaceae), exhibited various immunopharmacological activities in cyclophosphamide (CP)-treated mouse ascitic sarcoma. Treatment of ascitic sarcoma-bearing mice with a formulation of total extracts of Withania somnifera and Tinospora cordifolia (80:20) and alkaloid-free polar fraction of Withania somnifera resulted in protection towards CP-induced myelo- and immunoprotection as evident by significant increase in white cell counts and hemagglutinating and hemolytic antibody titers. Treatment with these candidate drugs will be important in development of supportive treatment with cancer chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Abasaheb Garware College, Pune, India.
authors.forename: Sham
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diwanay
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chitre
authors.forename: Bhushan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Patwardhan
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D027761:Asparagus Plant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012510:Sarcoma 180 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D031610:Tinospora; D032341:Withania
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003520:Cyclophosphamide