Hematological and bone marrow parameters in busulfan-treated rats: effects of silymarin extract

Busulfan is an alkylating agent that can be used in the treatment and control of chronic myeloblastic leukemia. Milk thistle seed extract of dried herb in 1 to 4 % silymarin is a powerful antioxidant flavonoid. In this study, busulfan and bone marrow suppression were used to assess whether the effect of silymarin can suppress cell death, or at least reduce it. Forty-two Wistar male rats were fed with a standard diet, divided into six groups of eight rats and treated as follows. Group 1—control group (received nothing). Group 2—control silymarin, 175 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Group 3—anemic control group, 20 mg/kg/day busulfan was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 14 days. Group 4—experimental group 1 received 20 mg/kg/day busulfan (i.p.) for 14 days, and after 2 weeks, 175 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Group 5—two groups received 20 mg/kg/day dose busulfan (i.p.) for 14 days, and after 2 weeks, 250 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Group 6—three groups received 20 mg/kg/day dose busulfan (i.p.) for 14 days, and after 2 weeks, 325 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Hematological and bone marrow parameters were measured using standard routine procedures. The results showed that after 2 weeks, in the group that had received busulfan with healthy controls, leukocyte parameters were influenced more by the drug similar to the control group. In samples of bone marrow cells after treatment with silymarin, a slight difference between the groups was observed, but the cells are promyelocyte, myelocyte, and metamyelocyte, and band width in the control group of healthy controls and patient groups treated with silymarin was different. Decrease in bone marrow cells of control group was significantly different from the control group treated with silymarin. The effects of silymarin on bone marrow cells and peripheral blood leukocytes lead to reduced cell death, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells against apoptosis, and the mechanisms, probably due to antioxidant properties, are unknown.