title: Pretreatment with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf preparation in Swiss mice diminishes leukopenia and enhances the antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide.
abstract: Cancer chemotherapy is associated with several life threatening complications, including bone marrow suppression and leucopenia. To overcome this problem, colony stimulating factor (CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF), can be used, however, these therapeutics are expensive and have several disadvantages, including tumor growth promoting activities. This study attempted to use an immunostimulatory neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf preparation (NLP) to prevent the cyclophosphamide (CYP) induced reduction in the WBC count. Pretreatment of mice with NLP reduced the extent of leucopenia and neutropenia in normal and tumor bearing CYP treated mice. NLP pretreatment enhanced in vitro tumor cell cytotoxicity by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from CYP treated mice in either normal or tumor bearing conditions. Similarly, NLP pretreatment of mice enhanced the CYP mediated in vivo tumor growth inhibition and survivability of the host. Based on these observations, it is concluded that NLP would be an effective tool to reduce CYP-induced hematological complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata-700026, India.
authors.forename: Diptendu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Anamika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Enamul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: Rathindranath
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baral
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D031601:Azadirachta; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003520:Cyclophosphamide