A standardized Orthosiphon aristatus extract improves forced-swimming performance and modulates hematological and hepatic biochemical parameters in paclitaxel-treated mice

Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent and debilitating condition among patients undergoing chemotherapy, markedly impairing quality of life and treatment adherence. This multifactorial syndrome arises from both the malignancy itself and treatment-related toxicities, particularly those associated with neurotoxic and cytotoxic agents such as paclitaxel. Despite its high prevalence, effective and well-tolerated interventions for chemotherapy-induced fatigue remain limited. The present study evaluated the effects of Lanctos 75™ (C5OSEW5050ESA), a standardized polymolecular extract derived from Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq., on chemotherapy-associated physical performance in paclitaxel-treated mice. Thirty adult male mice were allocated to five groups (n = 6 per group). Lanctos 75™ (200 or 400 mg/kg/day) or rosmarinic acid (30 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 7 days before paclitaxel exposure (10 mg/kg/day for 5 days). Physical performance was assessed using a modified forced swimming test, together with clinical observations, body weight, food and water intake, hematological parameters, serum biochemistry, and qualitative histopathology. Lanctos 75™-treated mice showed improved forced-swimming performance compared with the paclitaxel-treated control group. Paclitaxel alone was associated with reduced body weight and WBC count and with alterations in serum globulin, glucose, AST, and ALT, whereas these parameters were less altered in the Lanctos 75™-treated groups. Rosmarinic acid also showed activity in selected measured outcomes. As the forced-swimming paradigm assesses only a component of physical performance under experimental stress, the observed improvement does not demonstrate reversal of the multidimensional clinical syndrome of cancer-related fatigue. However, the overall findings indicate that Lanctos 75™ was associated with improved forced-swimming performance and differences in selected hematological and biochemical parameters in paclitaxel-treated mice. These preclinical observations warrant confirmation in adequately powered studies using complementary fatigue-related behavioral measures and direct mechanistic assessments.