RICINUS COMMUNIS AND SOME SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS UP-REGULATED BCL-2 GENE EXPRESSION AND SOME ENZYMATIC ANTIOXIDANTS IN BENZENE-INDUCED LEUKEMIA IN WISTAR RATS

Traditional medicine practitioners have relied on medicinal plants over several centuries because many such herbs exhibit effective therapeutic properties that inhibit cancer cell growth. The study investigates the effects of Azadirachta indica, Psorospernum febrifugum, Ricinus communis, and Rosy periwinkle on enzymatic antioxidants and BCL-2 gene expression in Wistar rats with benzene-induced leukemia. The study involved six groups of Wistar rats, including control and benzene-induced leukemia groups, with four groups receiving treatments with the selected plant extracts. The experimental period lasted four weeks, and during that period, rats were given their appropriate treatment. Multiple parameters were analyzed, including hematological parameters; antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, SOD, GSH, and GSH-Px) and levels of BCL-2 gene expression. Exposure to benzene resulted in significant body weight reduction, blood cell modulations, and increased oxidative damages. Upon treatment with plant extracts, significant improvements were noted, especially in terms of body weight and antioxidant enzyme activities (p < 0.05). Also, BCL-2 gene expression was significantly upregulated (p < 0.05), with Ricinus communis exerting the highest effect. Therefore, the plants Ricinus communis, Azadirachta indica, Psorospernum febrifugum, and Rosy periwinkle seem worthwhile in leukemia intervention, by virtue of their ability to modulate antioxidant activities and upregulate BCL-2 levels thereby translating into apoptosis of leukemic cells. Experimentally, Ricinus communis showed the most promising therapeutic action and had the potential to become an adjunct treatment for the management of leukemia.