Effect of cyclophosphamide on hematological and physiological and possible protective role of Berberis vulgaris in mice

Aim of study to investigate the effect of certain natural products from medicinal plants as adjuvant systems to reduce toxicity of chemotherapy. cyclophosphamide (CTX) is anti-cancer DNA alkylating chemotherapeutic agent to act against a variety of tumors in head and neck, testicular, ovarian, bladder, small-cell lung cancers, this study performed to investigate the effect of Berberis vulgaris in combination with CTX on hematological and physiological parameters induced by CTX in mice. In this study we evaluate the possible protective effects of Berberis vulgaris on hematological and physiological parameters in mice chronically treated with CTX. Four groups of mice were examined: a control (I), mice treated with CTX (II), mice treated with CTX + Berberis vulgaris (III), and mice treated with Berberis vulgaris (IV). All animals were treated for successively 5 days and killed one week after the last treatment, The results show significant decreases in levels of red blood cell distribution width (RDW), white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils and lymphocytes counts with increases in levels of monocytes. Also, hepatocytes oxidative stress which characterized by significant increases in the serum activities aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Berberis vulgaris combined with CTX or Berberis vulgaris alone successfully normalized the hematological and biochemical parameters in form returning (RDW), (WBCs), monocytes and lymphocytes counts to normal level. Hepatocytes oxidative stress which characterized by significant decrease in the serum activities of (AST) and (ALT).