Ethanolic leaf extract of Holoptelea integrifolia, Planch. decreases cisplatin-induced pica in rats

Treatment of nausea/vomiting caused by cisplatin, a potent chemotherapeutic agent and one of the most emetogenic stimuli, requires a combination of different antiemetic drugs. In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanolic extract of leaves of Holoptelea integrifolia, Planch., an antioxidant herbal medicine, on cisplatin-induced nausea using a rat model. Rats react to emetic/nausea-producing stimuli, such as cisplatin, with altered feeding habits, manifested by pica or increased consumption of kaolin (a type of clay). We measured pica in rats to quantify cisplatin-induced nausea, and to evaluate the antinausea effect of pretreatment with ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia, Planch (HIE) given orally. Cisplatin at 3 mg/kg (i.p) induced significant pica accompanied by reduced food intake, suggesting the presence of nausea. Hence, this cisplatin dose was selected for testing the antinausea activity of HIE. Cisplatin-induced pica decreased significantly when animals were pretreated with HIE at doses of 250 mg/kg p.o and 500 mg/kg p.o (P<0.01). HIE pretreatment decreased cisplatin-induced kaolin intake in the rat model of simulated nausea, suggesting that HIE and its active constituent(s) may play a therapeutic role in chemotherapy-induced emesis.