Ayurveda-based Botanicals as Therapeutic Adjuvants in Paclitaxel-induced Myelosuppression

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression is one of the major challenges in cancer treatment. Ayurveda-based immunomodulatory botanicals Asparagus racemosus Willd (AR/Shatavari) and Withania somnifera (L.). Dunal (WS/Ashwagandha) have potential role to manage myelosuppression. We have developed a method to study the effects of AR and WS as therapeutic adjuvants to counter paclitaxel (PTX)-induced myelosuppression. Sixty female BALB/c mice were divided into six groups—vehicle control (VC), PTX alone, PTX with aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of AR (ARA, ARH) and WS (WSA, WSH). The myelosuppression was induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of PTX at 25 mg/kg dose for three consecutive days. The extracts were orally administered with a dose of 100 mg/kg for 15 days prior to the induction with PTX administration. The mice were observed daily for morbidity parameters and were bled from retro-orbital plexus after 2 days of PTX dosing. The morbidity parameters simulate clinical adverse effects of PTX that include activity (extreme tiredness due to fatigue), behavior (numbness and weakness due to peripheral neuropathy), body posture (pain in muscles and joints), fur aspect and huddling (hair loss). The collected samples were used for blood cell count analysis and cytokine profiling using Bio-Plex assay. The PTX alone group showed a reduction in total leukocyte and neutrophil counts (4,800 ± 606; 893 ± 82) when compared with a VC group (9,183 ± 1,043; 1,612 ± 100) respectively. Pre-administration of ARA, ARH, WSA, and WSH extracts normalized leukocyte counts (10,000 ± 707; 9,166 ± 1,076; 10,333 ± 1,189; 9,066 ± 697) and neutrophil counts (1,482 ± 61; 1,251 ± 71; 1,467 ± 121; 1,219 ± 134) respectively. Additionally, higher morbidity score in PTX group (7.4 ± 0.7) was significantly restricted by ARA (4.8 ± 1.1), ARH (5.1 ± 0.6), WSA (4.5 ± 0.7), and WSH (5 ± 0.8). (Data represented in mean ± SD). The extracts also significantly modulated 20 cytokines to evade PTX-induced leukopenia, neutropenia, and morbidity. The AR and WS extracts significantly prevented PTX-induced myelosuppression (p < 0.0001) and morbidity signs (p < 0.05) by modulating associated cytokines. The results indicate AR and WS as therapeutic adjuvants in cancer management.

Shatavari supplementation in postmenopausal women alters the skeletal muscle proteome and pathways involved in training adaptation

“…Shatavari administration to mice who were immunised against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis resulted in a c. 16% greater antibody titre response at 14 days post-inoculation [ 42 ]. Administration of shatavari extract to mice with paclitaxel (PTX)-induced myelosuppression normalised leukocyte and neutrophil counts [ 43 ]. In recent years, several in silico studies have suggested that shatavari has the potential to inhibit COVID-19 via the hemagglutinin-acetylesterase (HE) glycoprotein receptor which is required for host infection [ 44 – 46 ].…”

Analysis of adverse drug reactions/events of cancer chemotherapy and the potential mechanism of Danggui Buxue decoction against bone marrow suppression induced by chemotherapy

“…Meanwhile, paclitaxel can produce a variety of adverse responses or events, the most severe of which are allergic reactions. Allergic reactions to paclitaxel have been known to be fatal, and its harm to the blood system cannot be discounted ( Saggam et al, 2022 ). Apart from that, the primary emphasis of capecitabine and etoposide is on the circulatory system.…”

Shatavari Supplementation in Postmenopausal Women Alters the Skeletal Muscle Proteome and Pathways Involved in Training Adaptation

“…Shatavari administration to mice who were immunised against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis resulted in a c. 16% greater antibody titre response at 14 days post-inoculation [42]. Administration of shatavari extract to mice with paclitaxel (PTX)-induced myelosuppression normalised leukocyte and neutrophil counts [43]. In recent years, several in silico studies have suggested that shatavari has the potential to inhibit COVID-19 via the hemagglutinin-acetylesterase (HE) glycoprotein receptor which is required for host infection [44][45][46].…”