Exploring the immune-boosting and hepatoprotective potential of Allium jesdianum against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in mice: A promising approach for immunomodulation.

Objective: Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a potent chemotherapy drug for treating cancer, but its use is limited due to its toxic effects on healthy human tissues. This study aimed to explore the in vivo immunomodulatory effects of Allium jesdianum on CTX-induced toxicity in Nordic Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice.

Materials and methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of the whole plant of A. jesdianum (AJE) was obtained using the maceration technique, and its total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured. Mice were orally administered with the extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg for 14 days, either as a standalone treatment or combined with an intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg CTX. The effects of the extract on body and relative organ weight, white blood cell (WBC) count, liver biochemical test, serum antibody titer hemagglutination (HA), delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR), lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine production, and spleen and liver histopathological features were assessed.

Results: AJE effectively restored various parameters in immunosuppressed mice, including body and organ weight, WBC counts, liver biochemical markers, HA, DTHR, lymphocyte proliferation ability, and cytokine production. Notably, AJE significantly stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, enhanced both cellular and humoral immunity, restored the levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4, and reversed the splenic white pulp atrophy in the immunosuppressed mice.

Conclusion: Analyses have shown that AJE exerts protective effects on the immune system of CTX-treated animals by boosting both cellular and humoral immunity, with no observed hepatoxicity.