title: An ethanol extract of Origanum vulgare attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced pulmonary injury and oxidative lung damage in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injury to normal tissues is the major limiting side effect of using cyclophosphamide (CP), an antineoplastic alkylating compound.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to evaluate the protective effect of an extract of Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae), an antioxidative medicinal plant, against CP-induced oxidative lung damage in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were pre-treated with various doses of O. vulgare extract (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days followed by an injection with CP (200 mg/kg b.w.) One hour after the injection of O. vulgare on the last day, mice were injected with CP; 24 h later, they were euthanized, their lungs were immediately removed, and biochemical and histological studies were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A single dose of CP markedly altered the levels of several biomarkers associated with oxidative stress in lung homogenates. Pretreatment with O. vulgare significantly reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation and attenuated the alterations in glutathione content and superoxide dismutase activity induced by CP in lung tissue. In addition, O. vulgare effectively alleviated CP-induced histopathological changes in lung tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results revealed that O. vulgare protects lung tissues from CP-induced pulmonary damage and suggest a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of lung disease produced by CP. Because O. vulgare has been extensively used as an additive agent and is regarded as safe, it may be used concomitantly as a supplement for reducing lung damage in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy .
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shokrzadeh
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Aroona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chabra
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naghshvar
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.forename: Emran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haghi-Aminjan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000633:toxicity; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D031341:Origanum; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Antioxidant activity; cyclophosphamide; lipid peroxidation; liver toxicity; oregano; pulmonoprotective