AIM To determine if almond extracts reduce the severity of chemotherapy-induced mucositis as determined through biochemical,histological and behavioural markers.METHODS Intestinal mucositis is a debilitating condition characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosa experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Certain bioactive plant products have shown promise in accelerating mucosal repair and alleviating clinical symptoms.This study evaluated almond extracts for their potential to reduce the severity of chemotherapy-induced mucositis in Dark Agouti rats.Female Dark Agouti rats were gavaged(days 3-11) with either PBS,almond hull or almond blanched water extract at two doses,and were injected intraperitoneally with 5-fluorouracil(5-FU-150 mg/kg) or saline on day 9 to induce mucositis.Burrowing behavior,histological parameters and myeloperoxidase activity were assessed.RESULTS Bodyweight was significantly reduced in rats that received 5-FU compared to saline-treated controls(P < 0.05).Rats administered 5-FU significantly increased jejunal and ileal MPO levels(1048%; P < 0.001 and 409%; P < 0.001),compared to healthy controls.Almond hull extract caused a pro-inflammatory response in rats with mucositis as evidenced by increased myeloperoxidase activity in the jejunum when compared to 5-FU alone(rise 50%,1088 ± 96 U/g vs 723 ± 135 U/g,P = 0.02).Other extractrelated effects on inflammatory activity were minimal.5-FU significantly increased histological severity score compared to healthy controls confirming the presence of mucositis(median of 9.75 vs 0; P < 0.001).The extracts had no ameliorating effect on histological severity score in the jejunum or ileum.Burrowing behavior was significantly reduced in all chemotherapy-treated groups(P = 0.001).The extracts failed to normalize burrowing activity to baseline levels.CONCLUSION Almond extracts at these dosages offer little beneficial effect on mucositis severity.Burrowing provides a novel measure of affective state in studies of chemotherapyinduced mucositis. AIM To determine if almond extracts reduce the severity of chemotherapy-induced mucositis as determined through biochemical, histological and behavioural markers characterized by inflammation and ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosa experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Ceec bioactive plant products have shown promise in accelerating mucosal repair and alleviating clinical symptoms. This study as almond extracts for their potential to reduce the severity of chemotherapy-induced mucositis in Dark Agouti rats. Male Dark Agouti rats were gavaged (days 3-11) with either PBS , almond hull or almond blanched water extract at two doses, and were injected intraperitoneally with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU-150 mg / kg) or saline on day 9 to induce mucositis. RESULTS Bodyweight was significantly reduced in rats that received 5-FU compared to saline-treated controls (P <0.05). Rats administered 5-FU significantly increased jejunal and ileal MPO levels (1048%; P <0.001 and 409% -inflammatory response in rats with mucositis as evidenced by increased myeloperoxidase activity in the jejunum when compared to 5-FU alone (rise 50%, 1088 ± 96 U / g vs 723 ± 135 U / g, P = 0.02) .Other extractrelated effects on inflammatory activity were minimal.5-FU significantly increased histological severity score compared to healthy controls confirming the presence of mucositis (median of 9.75 vs 0; P <0.001). These extracts had no ameliorating effect on histological severity score in the jejunum or ileum . Burrowing behavior was significantly reduced in all chemotherapy-treated groups (P = 0.001). The extracts failed to normalize burrowing activity to baseline levels. CONCLUSION Almond extracts at these dosages offer little beneficial effect on mucositis severity. Burrowing provides a novel measure of affective state in studies of chemotherapyinduced mucositis.