Introduction: Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent with antineoplastic and
immunosuppressive effects. Acrolein, one of its metabolites, is responsible for different toxic side
effects such as oxidative stress, and cell death. The present study aimed to evaluate protective
effects of farnesol, a natural terpenoid with antioxidant effects, on cyclophosphamide induced
side effects.
Methods: For this purpose, mice received 200 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide plus 5 or 10 mg/kg
of farnesol as pretreatment for 7 days. At the end of the study, samples from blood and different
organs were collected. Histopathological and biochemical analyses including malondialdehyde
(MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) content as well as alanine transaminase (ALT) and
aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were done to determine the toxic effects of cyclophosphamide
and probable protective effect of farnesol.
Results: Application of farnesol as a pretreatment could reduce tissue damages induced by
cyclophosphamide particularly in testis, liver and spleen. The kidney did not show any relapse in
tissue damages induced by cyclophosphamide. The testis demonstrated the most improvement
by administration of farnesol, and the anti-oxidant enzymes increased in testicular tissues.
Conclusion: This study indicated the protective effect of farnesol against oxidative stress induced
by cyclophosphamide in the tissues, especially at the dose of 10 mg/kg on the testicular tissue.
Hence, it might be beneficial in patients who are using cyclophosphamide
