title: Genoprotective effects of Origanum vulgare ethanolic extract against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity in mouse bone marrow cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cyclophosphamide (CP), an alkylating chemotherapeutic agent, can bind DNA, causing chromosome breaks, micronucleus (Mn) formation, and cell death. Because Origanum vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) has antioxidative properties, it might protect against DNA damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The genoprotective effect of O. vulgare ethanolic extract against CP-induced genotoxicity in mouse bone marrow cells was evaluated using a Mn assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were pre-treated with aerial parts of O. vulgare ethanolic extract at different doses (50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) for 7 d. One hour after the last administration of O. vulgare, animals were injected with CP at 200 mg/kg. After 24 h, the bone marrow cells of both femurs were flushed and the frequency of MnPCEs was evaluated to measure the chromosomal damages. In addition, the number of PCEs per 1000 NCEs in each animal was recorded to evaluate the bone-marrow suppression; mitotic activity was calculated as [PCE/(PCE + NCE)] × 100 to assess the cell division.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 400 mg/kg, O. vulgare displayed its maximum protective effect, reduced the number of MnPCEs from 10.52 ± 1.07 for CP group to 2.17 ± 0.26 and completely normalized the mitotic activity (p < 0.001). Origanum vulgare also led to significant proliferation and hypercellularity of immature myeloid elements after the mice were treated with CP, mitigating the bone marrow suppression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Origanum vulgare ethanolic extract exerts a potent genoprotective effect against CP-induced genotoxicity in mice bone marrow, which might be possibly due to the scavenging of free radicals during oxidative stress conditions.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy .
authors.forename: Emran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Habibi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shokrzadeh
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Aroona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chabra
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naghshvar
authors.forename: Razieh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keshavarz-Maleki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000633:toxicity*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Antioxidant activity; DNA damage; bone marrow suppression; micronucleus assay