Abstract

MODULATORY EFFECTS OF ASOKA EXTRACTS AS CHEMOPROTECTORS TO OVERCOME CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE INDUCED TOXICITY IN SARCOMA - 180 TUMOUR BEARING MICE

Varghese C. D.* and Neenu A Santhosh

Abstract

asoka (Asoka), one of the most legendary and sacred trees of India belonging to the family Caesalpinaceae is a universal panacea in Ayurveda. Further purification and chemical analysis of the active compound from the bark extract of Asoka showed that (-) - epicatechin was responsible for the observed chemoprotective activity. The effect of the administration of extracts of Asoka (Saraca asoca) flower and bark were studied in sarcoma - 180 tumour bearing mice with a chronic lethal dose of cyclophosphamide (15mg/kg body wt.). Combination therapy using the extracts of Asoka (flower or bark) along with cyclophosphamide significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneously transplanted sarcoma-180 tumour in mice. Leukopenia and fall in haemoglobin levels were prevented, mice which received combination treatment regimen. Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (SAKP) levels were also maintained in the near normal range in mice reviving cyclophosphamide along with flower or bark indicating protection against renal damage and liver necrosis.

Keywords: Chemoprotection, Cyclophosphamide (CTX), Saraca asoka, (-)-Epicatechin.