Effect of conagenin on thrombocytopenia induced by antitumor agents in mice.

The effect of conagenin (CNG) on myelosuppression induced by antitumor agents was investigated. The daily administration of CNG prevented reduction in the number of platelets (PLT) observed in peripheral blood of mice given mitomycin C (10 mg/kg) but did not prevent reduction in the number of leukocytes (WBC). The effect on PLT was also confirmed in mice given cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg). In mice given repeated doses of 5-fluorouracil (10 mg/kg), CNG prevented the reduction of PLT as well as WBC and maintained them at normal levels. CNG prevented reduction of the production of interleukin-2, 3 and 6 in cultured supernatants of spleen cells taken from mice given 5-fluorouracil. These results suggest that CNG modulates production of lymphokines which are responsible for thrombopoiesis.