Efficacy of Jackfruit365™ Green Jackfruit Flour Fortified Diet on Pegfilgrastim to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Leukopenia, Irrespective of Tumor Type or Drugs Used—A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Chemotherapy-Induced Leukopenia (CIL) is associated with increased mortality and economic burden on patients. This study was conducted to evaluate whether inclusion of green jackfruit flour in regular diet of those patients receiving chemotherapy, could prevent CIL. This was a retrospective study conducted among a group of patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors at Renai Medicity Hospital, Palarivattom, Cochin, Kerala, India, since June 2018. The study group comprised of 50 consecutive subjects, who were supplemented with green jackfruit flour diet in their regular diet and further followed up prospectively. The control group was retrospective with 50 subjects prior to June 2018, with no diet supplements. Those who received less than three cycles were excluded from either arm. The mean age of the participants in study group and control group were 53.16 ± 11.06 and 56.96 ± 12.16 years respectively. In the study group, six patients out of 37, and 20 patients out of 50 in the control group, developed CIL. They received 38 and 105 vials of filgrastim respectively. After excluding those cycles in study group patients, where green jackfruit flour was not taken, the mean number of cycles in which CIL developed (p = 0.00) and number of vials of filgrastim taken per cycle (p = 0.00) were significantly different from control group and no patient in the study group developed CIL. Inclusion of green jackfruit flour as a dietary intervention prevents chemotherapy-induced leukopenia in patients undergoing chemotherapy along with pegfilgrastim.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Chemotherapy-Induced Leukopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of High-Quality Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Chemotherapy is currently the main treatment modality for cancer. However, CIL is the most common adverse effect of chemotherapy, which is directly associated with survival rates ( Liu et al, 2013 ; Campos et al, 2015 ; Wyatt et al, 2015 ; Varughese et al, 2020 ). G-CSF is commonly used to relieve side effects and improve the QOL of patients with CIL ( Disis, 2005 ; Ohnaka et al, 2013 ; Cornes et al, 2018 ).…”

Green Jackfruit Flour Prevents Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis and Progression to Hepatocellular Carcinoma via the AMPK and MAPK Signaling Pathways

“…Ltd. These mice were housed in compliance with previously established protocols [22] within the animal facility managed by the Centre for Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, JSS AHER. The mice were maintained under controlled environmental conditions, including a 12-hour light-dark cycle and temperatures ranging between 21 and 24 °C.…”

Treating Cancers Using Nature’s Medicine: Significance and Challenges

“…In most cancers, post-chemotherapy-induced leukopenia (CIL) significantly contributes to the higher mortality rates among patients. In their retrospective pilot study, Varughese et al [ 7 ] indicated that a diet inclusive of green jackfruit flour, ‘Jackfruit365 (JF365)’, significantly reduced CIL in cancer patients who were also treated with pegfilgrastim. This study should pave the way for further in-depth investigations to identify the active component for this CIL-suppressing effect of JF365.…”