The Protective Role of Wheat Bran in Reducing Liver Toxicity and Enhancing CD34+ Stem Cells in Rats Treated with Chemotherapy

Abstract

The current investigation evaluated the therapeutic potential of Wheat Bran (WB) against hepatic injury induced by Cyclophosphamide (CTX) in a rat model. CTX, an established chemotherapeutic agent, precipitates hepatotoxicity by elevating pro-oxidants specifically Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) and Xanthine Oxidase (XO) while concurrently exhausting Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx) reserves. Moreover, CTX impairs the systemic mobilization of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells. In this experimental design, rats were supplemented with WB as a natural intervention. Biochemical assessments revealed that WB administration successfully re-established redox equilibrium and remarkably up-regulated the immunohistochemical expression of CD34 markers within hepatic tissues, aligning them closely with control parameters. Histopathological analysis confirmed that WB intervention attenuated CTX-induced vacuolar degeneration and vascular congestion. These results indicate that WB facilitates a potent hepatoprotective effect, functioning not only through the direct scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also by enhancing the regenerative homing of CD34+ stem cells to the site of hepatic insult. Consequently, this study substantiates the use of WB as a functional nutritional adjuvant to mitigate the collateral damage associated with alkylating chemotherapy, offering a novel perspective on dietary-mediated tissue regeneration and oxidative stress management.