Research Info

5-Fluoraracil (5-FU) is a common chemotherapy drug, but its toxicity is considered a big obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapy. Oxidative stress plays an important role in 5-FU toxicity. Plant compounds reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress. This study aimed to explore the potential protective effects of lemongrass essential oil (LG) on intestinal tissue damage caused by 5-FU. Forty-eight mice were divided into six groups including control, 5-FU (200 mg/kg, IP), 5-FU (200 mg/kg, IP along with LG (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, PO), and LG alone (500 mg/kg, PO) for six days. On the seventh day, serum and intestinal tissue samples were collected. The histopathological analysis of the intestine tissues revealed that a single dose of 5-FU led to degenerative damage, destruction of the epithelium, shortened villi length, and edema in the small intestine. It also caused a significant increase in serum (malondialdehyde) MDA levels, and a notable reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase serum levels. Oral administration of LG, particularly at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, significantly mitigated the severity of these lesions and serum marker alterations. Importantly, the study observed that administering a high dose of LG did not induce any pathological effects in the intestine tissue or serum. LG oil offers protective effects against 5-FU-induced damage in the mice intestine and serum biochemical changes, which can help reduce oxidative damage caused by free radicals generated by 5-FU.