ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to evaluate the mutagenic and antimutagenic potential of Cousinia thomsonii (CT) extract in bone marrow cells of male wistar rats using some important parameters like micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte (MnPCE), mitotic index (MI), chromosomal aberrations (CA) and polychromatic erythrocyte to normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (PCE/NCE). 30 male rats of wistar strain were divided into 6 groups with 5 rats each group. Group 1 rats were taken as negative control having free access to distilled water and rat feed. Group 2 rats were taken as positive control treated with mutagen cyclophosphamide (CP) at dose of 60 mg/kg b wt. for 2 days. Group 3 and 4 were treated with CT extract at dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg b wt. for 20 days. Group 5 and 6 were treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg b wt of CT extract for first 18 days and for last 2 days with CP at dose concentration of 60 mg/kg. It was found that rats treated with CT extract alone did not produce any significant changes in MnPCE, PCE/NCE ratio, CA and MI when compared with control treated rats (group 1). However in group 5 and 6 rats treated with CT extract in combination with CP a protective effect was observed against the cyclophosphamide induced cellular mutagenicity. In concluding remark Cousinia thomsonii was found to show antigenotoxic potential and also produce protective antimutagenic effects against CP induced chromosomal damage.
ABSTRACT
Nowadays synthetic food dyes are mostly preferred than natural plant derived dyes due to low cost and intense coloration. In this study hematological and biochemical parameters were determined in male wistar rats after 30 days treatment with synthetic red dye orange red and natural plant derived red dye alizarin. 25 male wistar rats were divided into 5 groups with 5 animals per group. Group I rats were taken as control treated with normal rat diet and distilled water. Group II and III rats (experimental) were oral gavaged with 50 mg and 150 mg/kg body weight of alizarin dye. Group IV and V rats (experimental) were gavaged with 50 mg and 150 mg/kg body weight of orange red dye. Treatment of group V rats with 150 mg/kg body weight of orange red dye produce significant changes in RBC, Hb, Hct, MCH, serum aminotransferase enzymes and serum protein fraction. In comparison to this in group IV rats a significant change was observed only in Hb, serum aminotransferase enzymes and serum protein fraction when compared with control (group I) rats. However in group II and III alizarin treated rats no significant change was observed in different biochemical and hematological parameters relative to their respective control. In conclusion synthetic orange red dye proved to be more toxic than natural plant derived red dye alizarin.