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.