BP-C3 is a formulation, which comprises lignin-derived polyphenolic composition of benzenepolycarboxylic acids (BP-Cx-1) with iron complex, selenium, ascorbic acid and retinol, and possesses geroprotective activity. The present study examined the effect of BP-C3 (80 mg/kg, administered 18 times in total by gavage) on the development of haematological and intestinal manifestations of toxicity following 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 150 mg/kg, administered once via intravenous injection) administration in outbred male Swiss-H Rappolovo (SHR) mice. The use of BP-C3 on therapeutic and preventative/therapeutic schedules demonstrated that it was protective against the toxic effect of 5-FU exerted on the lymphopoietic organs. Administering ВР-С3 24 h after 5-FU (therapeutic schedule) had an effect on the recovery of leukopoiesis and prevented anaemia in the mice. In the mice that received 5-FU and 5-FU with BP-C3 prior to and following administration of the chemotherapeutic agent (preventative/therapeutic schedule), mild anaemia developed by day 7. Administration of BP-C3 without 5-FU did not affect blood cell differentiation in the mice. Thus, BP-C3, depending on the administration schedule, had different effects on the haematological parameters of haematopoietic organs and peripheral blood in mice exposed to 5-FU. BP-C3 promoted intestinal crypt survival when administered on the preventative/therapeutic and therapeutic schedules, suggesting that the formulation protects the epithelium of the small intestine against damage by 5-FU.
Keywords: 5-fluorouracil; benzenepolycarboxylic acids; blood count; chemotherapy; intestinal crypt survival; polyphenol composition BP-C3; toxicity.