Mutagenic potentials of crataegus and laxaricin in human blood cells compared with sodiumdichromate using comet assay

Abstract

Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) or comet assay was introduced as a microelectrophoretic method for direct visualization of DNA damage in individual cells. Green plants in general contain mutagenic and carcinogenic substances, but there is little information. Due to the increased use and availability of herbal medicinal products it has been necessary to perform investigations pertaining to their toxicological safety. The purpose of this study was to use SCGE to assess the mutagenic potential of two herbal medicines, Laxaricin and Crataegus. The results were compared with positive sodium dichromate and negative (no mutagen) control groups. In this study the positive control group received (26.6, 66.5, 133, and 266mg/ml) of sodium dichromate and the test group Crataegus in doses of 10/ 100/ 400/ 100μl and Laxaricin in doses of 10/ 100/ 250/ 500μl were used. The instances of DNA damage were observed in selecte cells and viewed under a fluorescence microscope following electrophoresis and staining with ethidium bromide. Microscopic inspection and length of the comet were measured by using Scion Image Version â3b software. No significant DNA damage was observed with Crataegus. In contrast, Laxaricin seems to produce dose-dependent DNA damage and may therefore possess mutagenic effect. However, further study is required before a full determination of this product can be made.

Keywords: Laxaricin, Crataegus, mutagenicity, comet assay

Rsum

L\'lectrophorese gellose monocellulaire o assay comet t introduite comme une methode micro-lectrophoretiqu pour la visualisation directe des lesions d\'AND chez les cellules individuelles . Les plante vertes contiennent gneralement des substance mutageniques ou carcinogeniques mais on en dispose trs peut d\'information. Due l\'augmentation et la disponibilit des prodiuts de plante mdicinales. Il est devenue ncessaire d\'entreprendre des tudes concernant leur toxicit. Le but de cette tude tait d\'utilise le SCG pour valuer le potentiel mutagenique de deux herbe medicinales: Laxaricin, Crateagus. Les rsultats ont t compars ce du dichromate de sodium positif et negative (pas de mutagne) du groupe de contle. Dans cette etude les groupes de contrles reuent (26.6, 66.5, 133 et 266mg/ml) du dichromate de sodium et les groupes de test, Crateagus des dose de 10/100/400/ 1000μl et Laxaricin des doses de 10/ 100/ 250/ 500μl ont t utilises. Les instances de lesion d\'AND ont t observes dans certaine cellules slectiones et observes sous microscopy fluorescent aprs lectrophorse et coloration avec le bromide d\'ethidium. L\'inspection microscopique et la longeur du comet mesure en utilisant le logiciel Scion Image version â36.Aucune lesion significative ont t observes avec le Crataegus. Cependant Laxaricin apparait produire et ce dose dependent et pourait posseder des effet antimutageniques. Ce pendant des tudes approfondit sont requisent avant une dtermination total du prodiut.

Mots cles: Laxaricin, Crateagus, mutagenicit, assay comet

West African Journal of Pharmacology and Drug Research Vol. 20(1&2) 2005: 6-9