Evaluation of effect of Achillea millefolium extract on serum GSH level following administration of cyclophosphamide in mice

Background and Aim : Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a chemotherapy drug extensively used as an antineoplastic agent in treatment of various cancers. However, it is known to cause several adverse effects including reproductive toxicity. Achillea millefolium (AM) inflourecenes, a widely distributed medicinal plant, is highly regarded for its medicinal activities, including antioxidant properties. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH) is the major intracellular antioxidant and acts as the first line of defense against ROS and neutralize free radicals. Any decrease in endogenous GSH and other antioxidants, will be accumulation of ROS and other oxidants in a biological environment that caused oxidative stress and subsequent pathological effects leading to infertility. This study was planned to evaluate the effects of AM hydroalcoholic extract against changes of GSH following CP exposure in mice. Methods : For this study 32 adult NMRI (National Medical Research Institute) male mice were arranged into 4 groups. The group 1 as control received (5 ml/kg,daily) Normal Saline, the group 2, received CP (5mg/kg, daily), group 3 received AM hydroalcoholic extract (75mg/kg, daily) and group 4 received CP (5mg/kg, daily) + hydro-alcoholic extract of AM (75mg/kg, daily). Treatments were continued for 35 days. 24 hours after last treatment, all of mice weighed, then blood samples were taken from the hearts and serum GSH level was evaluated. In this study Tietz method by enzymatic cycle to measure GSH in blood plasma were used. Changes in absorbance at 412 nm wavelength was measured and according nmol/ mg protein was reported. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey test. Results : Biochemical studies showed that the level of GSH in group 2 significantly decreased compared to the control group (P<0/001). GSH level in group 3 had no significant difference compared to control group but in group 4, concurrent treatments CP and AM extract Caused significantly enhancement of GSH level that it was significant difference compared to the group 2 (P<0/001) that still significantly different from the control group (P<0/01). Conclusion : According to the findings of this study, reducing the amount of GSH can be considered as the direct cause of CP induced lipid peroxidation and AM hydroalcoholic extract more likely through inhibition of free radicals production and oxidative reactions, reduces adverse effects of CP.

Achillea millefolium, Cyclophosphamide, Glutathione peroxidase, Mice, ROS.