Review on: Immunomodulatory Effect of Ashwagandha on Cyclophosphamideinduced Toxicity

Aim and background: Cyclophosphamide is well known anticancer drug used for the treatment of several types of
cancer like breast cancer, leukemia, ovarian cancer. But cyclophosphamide reduces the production of blood cells from
bone marrow. This review focuses on how the aqueous extract of immunomodulator plant Ashwagandha was used to
combat the cyclophosphamide induced toxicity.

Methods: Firstly, after administration of cyclophosphamide @250mg/kg b.w. (tablet)orally by gastric intubation
method and total count of WBC, ALC, Platelets, RBC is recorded. Secondly, Ashwagandha (300mg/kg b.w.)
administered five days prior to cyclophosphamide administration and continued for ten days and parameters
recorded again.

Results: In the first case marked reduction in total count of WBC, ALC, platelets and slight reduction in RBC was
observed on fourth day. In second case prior administration of Ashwagandha resulted in significant increase in total
count of WBC, ALC, platelets. No significant statistical difference in the RBC count was seen during the study period.

Conclusion: Thus, this review shows that therapeutic potency of Ashwagandha ameliorate the toxicity produced
during cancer chemotherapy by mitigating the bone marrow depression.