Abstract
Introduction: Aplastic anemia is a syndrome of bone marrow failure comprising of peripheral pancytopenia and marrow hypoplasia. Recently, research has shown papaya leaf juice to increase blood cells counts.
 Aims & Objectives: This research was planned to investigate the effect of papaya leaf juice on blood cell counts in busulfan induced myelosuppressed mice.
 Place and duration of study: Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore from September 2015 to December 2015. Material &Methods: This animal experimental study comprised of 36 adult healthy Swiss albino mice weighing 30-35 g, divided randomly into three equal groups. Busulfan was given orally (14mg/kg) to induce myelosuppression to busulfan group and Carica papaya+ busulfan group on 8 occasions over a period of 23 days. Carica papaya leaf juice (10ml/kg) was given to the Carica papaya+ busulfan group daily for 23 days to observe its role in preventing myelosuppression. Normal group was given distilled water in an equivalent amount. One day after the final dose of busulfan and Carica papaya, the animals were sampled for blood cell counts. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. A p-value < 0.05 and below was considered as significant.
 Results: The Carica papaya leaf juice not only prevented significant fall in hemoglobin (10.86 ± 1.455 g/dl), RBC (9.54 ± 0.954× 106/mm3) and platelet count (958.92 ± 176.22 x103/mm3) vs (9.70 ± 0.904,11.24 ± 0.952 g/dl), RBC count (6.5025 ± 1.43,10.43 ± 0.234× 106/mm3) and platelet count (627.83 ± 151.63, 3881.08 ± 83.13 x103/mm3) in busulfan group but also kept them close to normal range. Total leukocyte count in C.papaya treated group improved significantly to 8116.67± 1540.85/mm3 vs (4516.67±789.51, 6666.67±798.10/mm3) busulfan treated and normal groups respectively.
 Conclusion: The Carica papaya leaf juice possesses significant myeloprotective activity. It may be a good candidate for prevention of chemotherapy induced pancytopenia
Highlights
Aplastic anemia is a syndrome of bone marrow failure comprising of peripheral pancytopenia and marrow hypoplasia
The Carica papaya leaf juice possesses significant myeloprotective activity. It may be a good candidate for prevention of chemotherapy induced pancytopenia
Paired t-test values showed that body weights of Normal group and Carica papaya+ busulfan group did not change significantly over time, whereas the Busulfan group showed a significant reduction in body weight (Table-1)
Summary
Aplastic anemia is a syndrome of bone marrow failure comprising of peripheral pancytopenia and marrow hypoplasia. Aims & Objectives: This research was planned to investigate the effect of papaya leaf juice on blood cell counts in busulfan induced myelosuppressed mice. Bone marrow failure is a disease syndrome characterized by a drastic decline in marrow’s functional ability to produce mature blood cells.[1] A paradigm of bone marrow failure is a disease called aplastic anaemia, in which patients have essentially empty bone marrow accompanied by severe anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.[2] The costly and hazardous ways of treatment of aplastic anaemia such as; bone marrow transplantation, immunosuppression and blood transfusion, have led the scientists to research on alternative methods for treatment of aplastic anaemia which are applicable and patient friendly.[3] Papaya, botanical name Carica papaya, a tropical tree with multiple benefits, is available throughout the year.[4] The leaves of Carica papaya are richly supplied with many healthy elements like papain, chymopapain, tocopherol, cystatin, ascorbic acid, flavonoids and glucosinolates[5,6] that enhance the gross anti-oxidant activity in blood and decrease the lipid peroxidation level.[7] Many fruitful researches on role of papaya leaf extract/juice in boosting up the platelet count, white blood cell (WBC) count and erythrocyte (RBC) count have been carried out.[8,9,10] These all studies are performed on normal animals, dengue patients or reversible models of myelosuppression. This study might help in treatment of chronic bone marrow conditions like aplastic anaemia
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