Abstract 132: African polyherbal formulation alleviates benzene-induced leukemia in Wistar rats

Abstract Background: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective cancer treatment options but they are accompanied by serious side effects. Therefore, more effective therapies are sorely needed. This study investigated the chemotherapeutic effects of a polyherbal formulation on benzene induced leukemia in Wistar rats. The polyherbal formulation is composed of fruits such as Orange, Lime, Lemon, Pineapple, Grape and Vegetables like; Pumpkin leave, Garden egg in honey medium. Method: Leukemia was induced by injecting 0.2 ml of benzene solution intravenously through the tail at 48 h intervals for four weeks. Leukemia developed in 92% of rats within 2 to 4 weeks after the last benzene injection and further observed for leukemia development in appropriate rat groups. Leukemia burden was assessed using indicator parameters such as total leukocyte, red blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin concentration. Immunophenotyping enumeration of CD 19 expression also corroborated the leukemia assessment by providing specific cellular marker for differentiation of the developed leukemia type. Exactly 0.48 ml of the polyherbal formulation was administered orally by gavage using oral cannular once daily post leukemia induction for four weeks. Results: Leukemia induction reflected in significant reduction in hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, red cell count and a marked and a significant increase in leukocyte count and CD 19 expression over the control (p < 0.05). There is significant difference between the leukemia group treated with polyherbal formulation and the leukemia positive control group untreated. Conclusion: This study reveals profound chemotherapeutic activity of the polyherbal formulation against experimentally developed leukemia by reversing the induced leukemia in the positive control rat group, hence the ability of the polyherbal formulation in alleviating the cancer symptoms. Table 1.Hematological parameters in polyherbal formulation treated leukemia bearing Wistar rats.Estimated parametersNegative control rats (Mean±SD)Leukemia Positive rats. (Mean±SD)Polyherbal formulation treated leukemic rats (Mean±SD)CD 19 (X 109/L)47.59±1.3989.41±1.7262.32 + 1.42*Total Leukocyte count (X 109/L)6.84 + 0.3011.08 + 0.317.45 + 0.65*Red blood cells(X 1012/L)6.30 + 0.383.5 + 0.385.10 + 0.03*Hematocrit (L/L)0.43 + 0.170.26. + 0.200.37 + 0.08*Hemoglobin (g/dl)13.62 + 0.696.63 + 0.9611.80 + 2.96*Platelets (X 109/L)554.80 + 92.23389.50 + 146.10425.10 + 60.8**Significance at p<0.05 Citation Format: Olufemi E. Akanni, Ayodeji Faremi, Aminat O. Agboola, Adekemi R. Akanni, Oluseyi E. Bamisaye. African polyherbal formulation alleviates benzene-induced leukemia in Wistar rats [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 132. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-132