The polyherbal formulation African Polyherbal formulation alleviates benzene – induced leukemia in Wistar rats Olufemi E. Akanni1, Ayodeji Faremi2, Aminat O. Agboola1, Adekemi R. Akanni3, Oluseyi E. Bamisaye4. 1Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, Nigeria; 2Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Department of Chemical Pathology; College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, Nigeria; 3Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, Nigeria; 4Afe Babalola University, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria Email: eoakanni@lautech.edu.ng Background Materials & Methods Summary Cancer treatments with the aid of chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not been fully maximized in patients because of their numerous severe side-effects and toxicity, while the use of several anticancer agents derived from plants are being employed in clinical use all around the globe without harming the normal cells of the body (Om et al., 2013; Taysa et al., 2016). Herbal medicines play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of cancer and are commonly available and comparatively economical. Many of these medicinal herbs are presently being investigated for novel drugs or templates for the development of new therapeutic agents (Sofidiya et al., 2010; Sushma et al., 2012). The polyherbal formulation This was developed and provided by a traditional healer in Osun state, Nigeria. It contains different extracts of fruits such as; orange (Citrus sinensis), lime (Citrus hystrix), lemon (Citrus limon), pineapple (Ananas comosus), grape (Vitsi vinifera and seeds) and vegetables such as; pumpkin leaves (Telfairia occidentalis), garden egg leaves all mixed in honey. The Experimental protocol 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. (Akanni et al., 2014). 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. Statistical Analysis Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Significant differences were also tested using ANOVA. p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Leukemia induction reflected in significant reduction in hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, red cell count and a marked and 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 poly-herbal formulation and the leukemia positive control group untreated. Table1.Hematological parameters in polyherbal formulation treated leukemia bearing Wistar rats. Conclusion This study reveals profound chemotherapeutic activity of the poly-herbal 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. Hence, in search of more effective therapies which 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 leaves, Garden egg in honey medium. References Taysa B.C.M., et al., (2016). Cytotoxic Effect of Erythroxylum suberosum Combined with Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer Cell Lines. Brazilian Dental Journal; 27(1): 108-112. Sushma, K., et al., (2012). Medicinal plants of Asian origin having anticancer potential. Short review. Asian J. Biomed. Pharmaceut. Sci., 2(10): 1-7. Akanni E.O et al., (2014). Chemopreventive and anti-leukaemic effects of ethanol extracts of Moringa oleifera leaves on benzene induced leukaemia in wistar rats. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 6:563-568. Objective In order to serve as alternative to the conventional chemotherapeutic intervention, this study therefore aimed at evaluating the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of the poly herbal formulation in benzene-induced leukemia bearing wistar rats. . Chemotherapeutic protocol Chemopreventive protocol Some hematological parameters in the respective groups of experimental rats WBC, white blood cells; RBC, red blood cells; PLT, platelets. Support: LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (LAUTECH); LAUTECH Animal House & Research Assistants. AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY ADO EKITI, NIGERIA.