Neuroprotective effect of Decalepis hamiltonii on cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress in the mouse brain

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.

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.

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.

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.