The protective role of Ageratum conyzoides (Billy goat weed) in cyclophosphamide induced haematological damage and cytogenotoxicity

Medical plants are now explored as alternative for treatment and prevention of various disease conditions. Ageratum conyzoides (A. conyzoides) is a common plant with long traditional medicinal use history. This study investigated the hypothesis that A. conyzoides protects against haematological damage and cytogenotoxicity induced by acute exposure to cyclophosphamide. A total of twenty (24) adult male Wistar rats weighing 208.50±28.3 g was randomly divided into four groups of six animals each. Group 1 served as control group and received 0.5 ml of Tween-20 orally and sterile injection water intraperitoneally on days 1 and 4. Group 2 received 0.5ml of Tween-20 orally and 40 mg/kg body weight of cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally on days 1 and 4. Group 3 received 500 mg/kg body weight of A. conyzoides extract orally and sterile injection water intraperitoneally on days 1 and 4. Group 4 received 500 mg/kg body weight of A. conyzoides extract orally and 40 mg/kg body weight of cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally on days 1 and 4. Oral treatment was daily and lasted for 7 days. Whole blood was collected for complete blood count and assessment of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio, Monocytes-to-Lymphocytes ratio (MLR) and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) as biomarkers of systemic inflammation and immunosuppression; and bone marrow smear were analyzed for micronucleated normochromated and polychromated erythrocytes (MNNCE and MNPCE), and PCE/NCE ratio was scored as index of cytotoxicity following exposure to cycophosphamide and the protective role of A. conyzoides. Our results showed cyclophosphamide caused significant reduction in WBC, platelet, RBC, Hb and PCV values. Also, cyclophosphamide induced significant increased abnormal RBC morphophenotypes, including irregular, teardrop, macrocytes, helmet, fragmented, sickle, burr and target cells, with consequent increase in frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic and micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes. Interestingly, treatment with A. conyzoides produced a significant amelioration of these cyclophosphamide-mediated effects. The mechanisms by which A. conyzoides ameliorated these toxic effects of cyclophosphamide remain to be fully investigated.