The protective effects of Allium ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in NMRI Mice: A promising natural immunomodulator.

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is an effective anticancer drug, but toxic effects against normal human tissues are its dose-limiting drawback. The aim of this research was to investigate the in vivo immunomodulatory activities of Allium ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum against CTX-induced toxicity in mice.

Materials and methods: Extract of the whole plant of A. ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum was obtained using the maceration technique, and its total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified through spectrophotometric analysis. Mice received daily oral administration (PO) of the extract (150 mg/kg) for a duration of 14 days, either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 20 mg/kg CTX. The effects of the extract on body weight, spleen weight, white blood cell (WBC), serum antibody titer hemagglutination (HA), delayed-type hypersensitivity response (DTH), lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and histopathological examinations were evaluated.

Results: A. ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum restored several parameters including spleen weight (p<0.001), WBC (p<0.001), lymphocytes (p<0.05), and monocytes (p<0.01), HA titer (p<0.05), and DTH response (p<0.01). A. ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum notably stimulated lymphocyte proliferation to PHA (p<0.01) and LPS (p<0.05) and recovered interferon (IFN)-γ (p<0.001) and interleukin (IL)-4 (p<0.001) levels in the immunosuppressed mice. Also, CTX-induced histopathological changes were reversed by A. ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum .

Conclusion: Analyses revealed A. ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum could regulate immunity and increase host immune responses. The observed strengthening effect can be attributed to the high amount of flavonoids and dipropyl trisulfide compounds present in A. ampeloprasum Subsp Iranicum.