Abstract

ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C) AMELIORATES CISPLATININDUCED HEMATOTOXICITY IN TUMOR-BEARING MICE

Amenla Longchar and Surya Bali Prasad*

ABSTRACT

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a potent antioxidant which acts as a primary protective mode against aqueous radicals in blood. As compared to ascorbic acid or cisplatin alone, combination treatment of Dalton’s lymphoma bearing mice showed better therapeutic efficacy which is accompanied by increased uptake of platinum (drug) into tumor cells. Further, this study examines the involvement of ascorbic acid in cisplatin-mediated development of various hematotoxic features in mice bearing ascites Dalton’s lymphoma. Treatment of mice with cisplatin resulted in a decrease in blood hemoglobin, erythrocytes, packed cell volume and leukocytes along with the development of various morphological abnormalities in erythrocytes. However, combination treatment of mice with ascorbic acid plus cisplatin reduced various hematotoxicities. In conclusion, combination treatment with ascorbic acid plus cisplatin enhances cisplatin-mediated cytotoxicity against Dalton’s lymphoma and shows an improvement in different hematological toxicities induced by cisplatin which may also be imperative in improving survivability of the host.

Keywords: Ascorbic acid, cisplatin, hematotoxicity.