title: Protective effect of Cassia occidentalis extract on chemical-induced chromosomal aberrations in mice.
abstract: This study was conducted to determine the antimutagenic potential of aqueous extract of Cassia occidentalis against the chromosomal aberrations (CA) produced in vivo by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and cyclophosphamide (CP) in mice. Animals (male mice) were treated with three doses of plant extract (50 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) for 7 days prior to the administration of single dose of mutagens (B[a]P 125 mg/kg oral; CP 40 mg/kg i.p.). The results indicated that C. occidentalis was not genotoxic per se and exerted no other toxic signs and symptoms in treated animals. The chromosomal aberrations produced by B[a]P and CP were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) by C. occidentalis pre-treatment. Furthermore, animals treated with plant extract showed a reduced level of cytochrome P 450 (Cyt P 450) and elevated levels of glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and glutathione content in the liver. It seems that C. occidentalis exerts its antimutagenic activity by modulating the xenobiotic activation and detoxification mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Elementology & Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trikha
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Athar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raisuddin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000187:drug effects*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D009153:Mutagens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione