Protective effect of triterpenoid fractions from the rhizomes of Astilbe chinensis on cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in tumor-bearing mice.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to investigate the protective effect of the triterpenoid fractions from the rhizomes of Astilbe chinensis (Saxifragaceae) (ATF) on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced toxicity in tumor-bearing mice.


METHODS
The mice inoculated with mouse sarcoma S180 cells were treated with saline or CTX alone, or co-treated with CTX and ATF. The blood, femur bone, and serum samples were collected for determination of the haematological and biochemical parameters and splenocytes were for assay of proliferation, the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, and production of interleukin-2 (IL-2).


RESULTS
ATF significantly increased the peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count and bone marrow cellularity (BMC) in CTX-treated S180-bearing mice. Increase of aspartate transanimase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine in the serum of CTX-treated mice was significantly reversed by ATF. The lowered levels of splenocytes proliferation, NK cells activity, and IL-2 production from splenocytes in S180-bearing mice after CTX treatment were also increased by ATF administration.


CONCLUSIONS
ATF provides significant protection against CTX-induced hematotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, and might be helpful in abrogation of CTX-induced toxicity during the chemotherapy.
Sun
Hong-Xiang
HX
College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Kaixuan Road 268, Hangzhou 310029, Zhejiang, China. sunhx@zju.edu.cn
Peng
Xiao-Ying
XY
D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000633:toxicity*; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D027343:Rhizome; D012510:Sarcoma 180 / Q000188:drug therapy; D031995:Saxifragaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014315:Triterpenes; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D003404:Creatinine