Abstract
Background:
Ciprofloxacin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, has been linked to possible side effects and lasting health issues. The use of a supplement that minimizes the side effects of ciprofloxacin is necessary to augment its activity.

Aim:
This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of folic acid against ciprofloxacin-induced toxicity in male rats, focusing on hematological parameters and cardiac histological changes.

Methods:
Forty Albino Wistar male rats were divided into four groups (n=10); control, ciprofloxacin-treated (250 mg/kg bw), folic acid-treated (100 mcg/kg bw), and a combination of folic acid and ciprofloxacin. The study lasted twenty days. Blood samples, were collected for hematological analysis, and cardiac tissues were inspected histopathologically, the data of the study were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results:
Ciprofloxacin administration resulted in significant decreases in red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. White blood cells (WBCs) count was significantly elevated. Histopathological examination revealed disrupted cardiac muscle architecture, loss of muscular striations, degeneration, focal apoptosis, coagulative necrosis, congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the ciprofloxacin-treated group. Co-administration of folic acid with ciprofloxacin showed significant improvement in hematological parameters and milder histopathological changes in cardiac tissue.

Conclusion:
The study revealed that ciprofloxacin can induce significant hematological and cardiac muscle changes in rats. Folic acid supplementation appears to mitigate these adverse effects, potentially through its antioxidant properties, support of DNA stability and repair, and preservation of cellular function. Further research, especially clinical studies in humans, is necessary to confirm these protective effects and establish appropriate dosing regimens.

Key words: Ciprofloxacin, folic acid, cardiotoxicity, hematological parameters, histopathology, antioxidant, Protective effects