Authors: Biobaku, K. T., Thomas, F. C., Adenubi O. T. Abiade, A. and Ajadi, R. A.
Trop. Vet. Vol. 29(2) 24-30 (2011)
Abstract
The protective effect of Tahitian noni juice (TNJ) on the adverse effect of an anticancer drug cyclophosphamide was evaluated in wistar rats. Twenty one adult male wistar rats mean weight (180 ± 24.3g) weekly for 1 weeks were randomly divided into three groups. Rats in group one were trcated with cyclophosphamide 150mg/kg). Rats in group two were treated daily with TNJ (10ml/kg), while, rats in group three were treated with TNJ (10ml/kg) daily and cyclophosphamide (50mg/kg). Cyclophosphamide was administered intraperitoneally once weekly, while TNJ was administered orally. All treatments lasted for four weeks. Body weight, packed cell volume (PCV), while blood cell counts (WBC), erythrocycle count, serum protein, liver enzymes, creatinine, urea, serum lipids and lipoproteins were determined at the end of treatment. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed with one way analysis of variance. There were no significant differences in the PVC, RBC and serum protein between the three groups of rats. The WBC and serum albumin were significantly (P<0.05) higher in rats treated with TNJ alone or TNJ and cyclophosphamide compared with rats treated with cyclophosphamide alone. Although the serum cholesterol and the triglycerides were not significantly different among the three groups, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly (P< 0.05) lower in rats treated with either TNJ or TNJ and cyclophosphamide. Both ALT and AST were significantly (P< 0.05) lower in rats treated with TNJ or TNJ and cyclophosphamide, while the serum ALP did not differ between the three treatment groups. It was therefore concluded that TNJ protects against the adverse effect of cyclophosphamide administration in rats and can be used to improve the quality of life of cancer patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy.
Keywords: Tahitian Noni Juice, Wistar rats, Haematology, Biochemistry