Protective effects of Nostoc sphaeroides Kütz against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression and oxidative stress in mice

Abstract

Nostoc was orally administered to mice to evaluate the possible effects on cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppression. The results showed that feeding Nostoc may promote the growth of mice. Meanwhile, spleen and thymus indices, WBC, splenic lymphocyte transformation rate, macrophage phagocytosis, and T-AOC were significantly higher in mice treated with CY + Nostoc than treated with CY. ELISA results showed that Nostoc treatment enhanced the production of IgG, IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ in sera of CY-treated mice. In addition, histopathological examination confirmed the biochemical and immunological results, suggesting that Nostoc may be a promising modulator in attenuating CY-induced immunosuppression and oxidative stress.

Keywords:

• Nostoc sphaeroides Kütz
• nutrients
• mouse
• immunosuppression
• oxidative stress
• histopathology

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Key Research Project of Henan Province in China [No. 19zx011], and the Key Subjects of Biology in Henan Province, China.