Royal jelly attenuates azathioprine induced toxicity in rats

• Administration of azathioprine (AZA) resulted in oxidative damage and hepatotoxicity in rats.
• Alterations in blood picture, hepatic enzymes and antioxidant enzymes were seen in azathioprine toxicity.
• Royal jelly altered the anemic condition, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia induced by azathioprine.
• Royal jelly significantly reversed the oxidative injury caused by azathioprine by reducing the alterations in antioxidant enzymes.
• Royal jelly is potent for ameliorating the hepatotoxicity of azathioprine.

In the present study, we investigated the potential protective effects of royal jelly against azathioprine-induced toxicity in rat. Intraperitoneal administration of azathioprine (50 mg/kg B.W.) induced a significant decrease in RBCs count, Hb concentration, PCV%, WBCs count, differential count and platelet count, hepatic antioxidant enzymes (reduced glutathione and glutathione s-transferase) and increase of serum transaminases (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase enzymes) activities, alkaline phosphatase and malondialdehyde formation. Azathioprine induced hepatotoxicity was reflected by marked pathological changes in the liver. Oral administration of royal jelly (200 mg/kg B.W.) was efficient in counteracting azathioprine toxicity whereas it altered the anemic condition, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia induced by azathioprine. Furthermore, royal jelly exerted significant protection against liver damage induced by azathioprine through reduction of the elevated activities of serum hepatic enzymes. Moreover, royal jelly blocked azathioprine-induced lipid peroxidation through decreasing the malondialdehyde formation. In conclusion, royal jelly possesses a capability to attenuate azathioprine-induced toxicity.