Protective effect of triterpenoid fractions from the rhizomes of Astilbe chinensis on cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in tumor-bearing mice

Aim of the study: 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. Materials and methods: The mice inoculated with mouse sarcoma S180 cells were treated with saline or CTX alone, or co-treated with CTX and ATE 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 ATE 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. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.