Histopathological and biochemical evaluation of protective effects of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil on ۵-Fluorouracil-induced intestinal damage in murine model

۵-Fluoraracil (۵-FU) is a common chemotherapy drug, but its toxicity is considered a big obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapy. Oxidative stress plays an important role in ۵-FU toxicity. Plant compounds reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress. This study aimed to explore the potential protective effects of lemongrass essential oil (LG) on intestinal tissue damage caused by ۵-FU. Forty-eight mice were divided into six groups including control, ۵-FU (۲۰۰ mg/kg, IP), ۵-FU (۲۰۰ mg/kg, IP along with LG (۱۲۵, ۲۵۰, and ۵۰۰ mg/kg, PO), and LG alone (۵۰۰ mg/kg, PO) for six days. On the seventh day, serum and intestinal tissue samples were collected. The histopathological analysis of the intestine tissues revealed that a single dose of ۵-FU led to degenerative damage, destruction of the epithelium, shortened villi length, and edema in the small intestine. It also caused a significant increase in serum (malondialdehyde) MDA levels, and a notable reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase serum levels. Oral administration of LG, particularly at doses of ۲۵۰ and ۵۰۰ mg/kg, significantly mitigated the severity of these lesions and serum marker alterations. Importantly, the study observed that administering a high dose of LG did not induce any pathological effects in the intestine tissue or serum. LG oil offers protective effects against ۵-FU-induced damage in the mice intestine and serum biochemical changes, which can help reduce oxidative damage caused by free radicals generated by ۵-FU.

کلیدواژه ها:

Essence ، ۵-fluorouracil ، histopathology ، lemongrass ، Small Intestine