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Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the anti-mutagenic effect of Carthamustinctorius oil (CTO) on cyclophosphamide-induced mutagenicity and its impact on oxidative stress. Cyclophosphamide and its metabolites can bind DNA, causing damage that may result in chromosome breaks and icronucleus formation. Incorporation of antimutagens in our diet is the best way to minimize the effect of mutagens. Micronuclei assessment from bone marrow and peripheral blood was used in the present study to assess the damage to DNA. Cyclophosphamide in a single dose (25 mg/kg, i.p.) was used to induce micronuclei in albino mice. Treatment with CTO was initiated in the single dose study (100, 300 & 500 mg/kg) and as a time course for 48 h and 72 h (500 mg/kg). 24 h after injecting cyclophosphamide, the animals were sacrificed and micronuclei were determined from smears prepared from bone marrow and peripheral blood. The antioxidant impact of the oil was determined using ferric ion reducing capacity of plasma and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances as a measure of lipid peroxidation. All doses were capable of preventing the formation of micronuclei but 500 mg/kg of the oil was most efficacious as a single dose and in the time course study. The beneficial effect of CTO is possibly due to the presence of antioxidants fractions such as Vit-E, linoleic acid and polyphenols.