PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CROCETIN ON THE BLADDER TOXICITY INDUCED BY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE

Cyclophosphamide (CX) has been widely used as an anticancer agent, how ever obtaining a maximum therapeutic potential for CX has remained a c hallenge, for generating undesired toxic side effects to the bladder. Crocetin, a natural carotenoid has been employed in the present studie s to ameliorate the bladder toxicity of CX. Interestingly, crocetin at a dose of 50 mg/kg modulated the release of chloroacteldehyde, a urot oxic metabolite of CX in the urine of mice given combined treatment. C rocetin at the same dose significantly elevated Glutathione-S-Transfer ase enzyme activity both in the bladder and the liver o mice treated w ith CX. The exact mechanism of the protective effect of crocetin is no t known, presumable it may act as an antioxidant, trapping and scaveng ing free radicals during the detoxification process. In Sarcoma-180 tu mor bearing mice, crocetin has the ability to protect against CX induc ed bladder toxicity without altering its antitumor activity. Our studi es are important to identify antioxidant rescue agents to overcome dos e-limiting toxicity of CX.