Abstract
Background Curculigo orchioides Gaertn is an ancient medicinal plant (Family: Amaryllidaceae), well known for its immunomodulatory and rejuvenating effects. Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is an alkylating agent widely used for treating a variety of human malignancies, but associated with different toxicities too. Our previous reports regarding the hemoprotective and hepatoprotective effects of the plant against CPA toxicities provide the background for the present study, which is designed to analyze the ameliorative effect of the methanolic extract of C orchioides on the urotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by CPA. Methods CPA was administered to male Swiss albino mice at a single dose of 1.5 mmol/kg body weight to induce urotoxicity after 5 days of prophylactic treatment with C orchioides extract (20 mg/kg body weight). Mesna (2-mercaptoethanesulfonate) was used as a control drug. Serum, tissue, and urine levels of kidney function markers and antioxidant levels were checked along with the serum cytokine levels. Results The plant extract was found to be effective in ameliorating the urotoxic and nephrotoxic side effects of CPA. Upregulation of serum interferon-γ and interleukin-2 levels were observed with C orchioides treatment, which was decreased by CPA administration. Besides these, serum tumor necrosis factor-α level was also downregulated by C orchioides treatment. Conclusion Curculigo orchioides was found to be effective against the CPA-induced bladder and renal toxicities by its antioxidant capability and also by regulating the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.