Stimulation of Hepatocytes Repair by Fruit Juice of Opuntia ficus indica in Anti Cancer Drug Cyclophosphamide (CP)-Induced Liver Toxicity in Mice

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is a cytotoxic alkylating agent that has been used extensively in medicine as anti neoplastic agent for the treatment of different cancers worldwide. Chemotherapy with CP is associated with significant toxicity due to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals resulting in increased levels of oxidative stress (OS) aiming to identify natural substances that would be effective in reducing the severity of CP.

Cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) is an indigenous medicinal plant possesses wide range of medicinal properties. It is used in traditional folk medicine and nutrition in many countries. In this study, we examined the effects of prickly pear fruit’s juice on liver damage in order to evaluate its hepatoprotective effects against hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress, and cytotoxicity induced in mice by CP at a dosage of (75 mg/kg) body weight.

The degree of liver injury was analyzed using serum biochemical markers such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the total protein and albumin contents. Further, the liver analyzed for the degree lipid peroxide (LPO) as (MDA) and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Moreover, the cytotoxicity induced by CP treatment was substantiated by the reduction of hepatic cells nuclieic acids, protein, glutathione and increased lipid peroxide levels due its prooxidant nature.

Treatment of mice with cactus fruit juice after CP- dosing statistically restored the serum hepatic markers (AST, ALT, LDH), total protein and albumin, hepatic cells nucleic acids and antioxidant levels.