Antigenotoxic studies of Salvadora persica (Miswak) root extract in mice

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate in-vivo antigenotoxic effect of repeated exposure of hydro-alcoholic extract of Salvadora persica (SP). Two doses of root extract of SP (200 and 400 mg/kg) were administered to mice twice daily via gavage followed by induction of genotoxicity by Cyclophosphamide (CP-40 mg/kg), 24 hours before sacrifice. Animals were sacrificed, bone marrow & liver extracted for various estimations. Studies such as bone marrow chromosomal aberration assay; micronucleus test, and hepatic antioxidant enzymes were conducted for standard and treated mice. Results were statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA followed by Tukys test (P<0.05). Results showed that CP produced a significant increase in average percentage of aberrant metaphases, chromosomal aberrations (CAs), formation of micronuclei (MN) in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE) and confirmed genotoxicity of CP in mouse bone marrow cells. CP also markedly inhibited the activities of glutathione (GSH) and increased malondialdehyde (MDA). Pretreatments with SP significantly inhibited the frequencies of aberrant metaphases, MN formation, CAs and reduced genotoxicity in mouse bone marrow cells induced by CP. SP also improved CP-induced GSH activities and reduced MDA content in the liver. Our studies revealed that SP has protective effect against genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by CP.

Keywords: Salvadora persica, Cyclophosphamide, Chromosomal aberration, Micronucleus, Antioxidant enzymes.