Abstract
The protective effects of honey bee (HB) and pollen grains against cyclophosphamide (CPM) -induced cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in mice were investigated. This was achieved through study the effects of CPM and HB on oxidative status, chromosomal aberrations and gene expression of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL1 beta), interleukin 17A (IL-17A) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in mice. In addition, the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde were determined. The results of this study revealed that CPM decrease in GSH level and increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver and kidney tissues. Moreover, CPM induced sperm abnormality, chromosomal aberrations and down regulated the expression of the studied cytokine genes. HB treatment in association with CPM ameliorates GSH, MDA, chromosomal aberrations and regulated the expression of IL-1 beta, IL-17A, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Thus, HB inhibits the cytotoxic and genotoxic risks associated with CPM treatment in mice.