J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Dec; 8(6): 787-96.

Protective effects of Rasayanas on cyclophosphamide- and radiation-induced damage.

Vayalil PK, Kuttan G, Kuttan R.

Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA. praveen@uab.edu

Rasayanas are a group of herbal drug preparations widely used in Ayurveda to improve the general health of the body. In mice, Rasayanas are potent myeloprotective agents against chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Rasayanas are also effective myeloprotectors in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In this study, we provide further evidence to support the chemoprotective and radioprotective efficacy of four Rasayanas in mice. Rasayanas were found to reduce the loss of body weight and organ weight induced by cyclophosphamide and radiation significantly. Rasayanas were also found to protect tissue from cytotoxic injury associated with reduced serum and liver lipid peroxides, alkaline phosphatase, and glutamate pyruvate transaminase in cyclophosphamide- and radiation-treated animals. These results suggest the potential chemoprotective and radioprotective effects of Rasayanas, which require further study to explore their complete usefulness in cancer therapy.