Babak Daneshfard
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Title: Chemical basis of treating chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in pediatric ALL patients by chamomile oral drop
Biography
Biography: Babak Daneshfard
Abstract
Neutropenia is a blood disorder defined by a decrease in the absolute neutrophilic count (ANC) below the normal range. As a common complication of chemotherapy, it is associated with susceptibility to serious bacterial and fungal infections which could be life threatening. Matricaria chamomilla (Asteraceae), also called Baboone Shirazi in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) literature, is a globally used medicinal herb with a wide range of applications. Apigenin as one of the main components of chamomile is an anti-inflammatory agent which suppresses prostaglandin E2. Moreover, it plays an anxiolytic role by reducing GABA-activated chloride currents. Apigenin has also shown anti-cancer effects in human cell lines making chamomile a safe affordable anti-cancer agent. Results of a pilot controlled clinical trials on pediatric ALL patients with chemotherapy induced neutropena revealed a significant increase in the number of white blood cells and neutrophils following 10 days consumption of chamomile oral drop. Such a beneficial complementary therapy would naturally decreases the need for Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF) and its related complications in these patients.