title: In vivo micronucleus assay and GST activity in assessing genotoxicity of plumbagin in Swiss albino mice.
abstract: Information available on the mutagenicity of a large number of indigenous drugs commonly employed in the Siddha and Ayurveda systems of medicine is scanty. In this context, the current investigation on plumbagin, 5-hydroxy-2methyl-1,4-napthoquinone, an active principle in the roots of Plumbago zeylanica used in Siddha and Ayurveda for various ailments, was carried out; 16 mg/kg b.w. (LD(50)) was fixed as the maximum dose. Subsequent dose levels were fixed as 50% and 25% of LD(50) amounting to 8 mg and 4 mg/kg b.w., respectively, and given orally for 5 consecutive days in 1% Carboxyl Methyl Cellulose (CMC) to Swiss albino mice weighing 25-30 g. The micronucleus assay was done in mouse bone marrow. Plumbagin was found to induce micronuclei at all the doses studied (4 mg/kg, 8 mg/kg, 16 mg/kg b.w.), and it proves to be toxic to bone marrow cells of Swiss albino mice. Animal treated with cyclophosphamide (40 mg/kg b.w.) served as positive control. In addition, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was observed in control, plumbagin (4 mg, 8 mg, 16 mg/kg b.w., respectively), and genotoxin-treated experimental group of animals. No significant change in GST activity was observed with plumbagin dose of 4 mg/kg b.w., whereas GST activity was significantly inhibited by higher doses of plumbagin (8 mg and 16 mg/kg b.w.) and cyclophosphamide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: SivaKumar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Murali
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Devaraj
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niranjali Devaraj
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000633:toxicity*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009285:Naphthoquinones; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C014758:plumbagin