Protective effect of some natural products against chemotherapy-induced toxicity in rats

Aim: There is a great interest in combining anticancer drugs with natural products aiming at maximizing their efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. Hence, the present study was constructed aiming to investigate the protective potential of three natural products, 1,8-cineole an essential oil from Artemisia herba alba, exopolysaccharide (EPS) from locally identified marine streptomycete, and ellagic acid (EA), against chemotherapyinduced organ toxicity. Methods: Isolation, production and characterization of EPS from marine streptomycete was done. Animals were allocated into five groups, GP1: normal control, GP2: cyclophosphamide (CYC), GP3: 1,8-cineole + CYC, GP4: EPS + CYC, GP4: EA + CYC. All drugs were administered orally 1 week before and concomitantly with CYC. Electrocardiography (ECG) analysis, liver enzymes (ALT and AST), cardiac serum markers (LDH and CK), oxidative stress biomarkers in hepatic and cardiac tissues (GSH and MDA), TGF-beta 1 and histopathological examination of hepatic and cardiac tissues were executed. Results: The isolated stain produced EPS was identified as Streptomyces xiamenensis. EPS contains uronic, sulphate groups and different monosugars with Mw 4.65 x 10(4) g/mol and showed antioxidant activity against DPPH. Pretreatment of rats with 1,8-cineole, EPS and EA improved ECG abnormalities, decrease serum markers of hepato-and cardiotoxicity, prevent oxidative stress and decrease TGF-beta 1 in liver and heart tissues. Conclusion: The present results demonstrate the hepatoprotective and cardioprotective effects of the above-mentioned natural products against CYC organ toxicity.