Methotrexate-Induced Tissue Toxicity and Cancer Herbal Management: Anti Oxidative and Protective Roles of Extract of Lannae Egregia Leaf

Tissue toxicity have been linked to oxidative damage elicited by orthodox anti-cancer agents. Bioactive components from plants are used locally for treatment of cancer. This study evaluated the roles of ethyl acetate extract of Lannae egregia (EELE) leaf, a local anticancer plant of West Africa following methotrexate administration in rats. Thirty- two male Wistar rats averagely weighing 150g used for this study were acclimatized and randomly selected into four groups, A-D and treated: Group A (Control), Group B (Methotrexate only,2.5mg/kg.bw at 3 days interval for 21 days), group C (pre-treated extract at 100mg/kg.bw. daily for 14 days, challenged with 2.5mg/kg.bw of Methotrexate for 21 days at 3 days interval), group D (extract only at100mg/kg.bw daily), all carried out orally in 0.1 ml solution for 35days.Antioxidants, lipids profile, liver and kidney indices were determined using standard methods. Results showed that methotrexate significantly (p<0.05) decreases liver and kidney Superoxide dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione peroxidase activities, reduced glutathione and total protein levels with corresponding significant (p<0.05) increases in malondialdehyde concentrations and percentage fragmented DNA. In contrast, combined treatment with extract (group C) and extract alone (group D) showed improved metabolic alterations as these were reversed comparably with control. Results of lipid profile, liver and kidney indices showed elevated levels of plasma total triglyceride and cholesterol accompanied with attenuated level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)while activities of Gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) , as well as levels of bilirubin , plasma creatinine and urea were significantly (p<.05) increased in group B,which were reversed by group C. Results are suggestive of toxic effect of methotrexate via induction of oxidative stress while extract exhibited antioxidative and tissue protective potentials suggestive of its rich-bioactive contents and thus validating its medicinal values and as potential adjunct in cancer management.