title: Neuroprotective effect of Decalepis hamiltonii on cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in the mouse brain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cyclophosphamide (CP), one of the most widely used antineoplastic drugs, causes toxic side effects on vital organs including brain. In this study, we have investigated neuroprotective potential of the aqueous extract of the roots of Decalepis hamiltonii (DHA) against CP-induced oxidative stress in the mouse brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swiss albino male mice were pre-treated with DHA (50 and 100 mg/kg b.w.) for 10 consecutive days followed by an injection with CP intraperitoneally (25 mg/kg b.w.) for 10 days 1 h after DHA treatment; 16 h later, they were euthanized, their brains were immediately removed, and biochemical and molecular analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that injection of CP induced oxidative stress in the mouse brain as evident from the increased lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, depletion of glutathione and reduced activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase. Treatment with DHA significantly mitigated the CP-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, expression of genes for the antioxidant enzymes was downregulated by CP treatment which was reversed by DHA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, DHA protected the brain from oxidative stress induced by CP, and therefore, it could be a promising nutraceutical as a supplement in cancer chemotherapy in order to ameliorate the toxic side effects of cancer drugs.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarei
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shivanandappa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione