The current investigation sought to determine the impact of Saussurea costus (S. costus) root
extract (SCRE) supplementation on cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced anemia. Forty male
albino rats were separated into four groups (10 rats each): Group I (control), Group II
(SCRE), Group III (CTX), and Group IV (CTX+SCRE). Blood and femoral bones were
collected after the end of the experiment. The following parameters were measured;
hematological parameters, erythrocyte oxidative biomarkers, erythrocyte osmotic fragility,
and plasma and erythrocyte Na+
, K
+
and Mg²+
ions levels. Moreover, the histopathological
investigation was conducted. The results revealed that the CTX significantly reduced all
hematological parameters and bone marrow cellularity. CTX also altered erythrocyte
oxidative biomarkers, shifting the osmotic fragility curve to the right and disrupting plasma
and erythrocyte Na+
, K
+
and Mg²+ ions levels. With the supplementation of SCRE, all these
parameters improved. So, it could be concluded that CTX-induced anemia resulting from
myelosuppression and erythrocyte damage caused by oxidative stress could be mitigated by
Saussurea costus root extract (SCRE).