CHEMOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF OROXYLUM INDICUM VENT. ROOT BARK AGAINST CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE MEDIATED MYELOSUPPRESSION AND ORGAN INJURY

The study investigated the chemoprotective effect of root bark of Oroxylum indicum Vent., against cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced myelosuppression and oragn injury in BALB/c mice. Four groups of 6 animals each? normal, untreated negative control group and animals treated with O. indicum Vent. root bark 70% hydro methanolic extract at low (OIML- 200 mg/kg b.wt.) and high doses (OIMH- 400 mg/kg b.wt.) respectively for 20 consecutive days were used for the study. Intra-peritoneal injection of CTX at a dose of 20 mg/kg on consecutive days, from day 6 to 15 was given for toxicity induction in all animals except normal. The body weight changes, hemoglobin level, total leucocyte count and bone marrow cellularity of animals in all groups were tracked periodically. After 120 hours of last CTX injection, mice were sacrificed; blood was collected to analyse serum markers of hepatic and renal function. The antioxidant status of liver and renal tissues based on SOD activity, GPx activity, reduced glutathione level and inhibition of lipid peroxidation were studied. The organo-somatic index (relative organ weight) of spleen as well as histological examination of intestine was determined in animals of all groups. Opposed to the devastating effect of CTX in hematological profile, bone marrow cellularity and relative spleen weight of untreated control group, the OIM treated animals showed significant restoration of these parameters into normalcy. OIM treatment also revealed better antioxidant profile and intestinal histological features, in comparison to the untreated control group, revealing its in vivo chemoprotective property.