In vivo and in vitro evaluation of the mutagenic potential of carbamazepine: does melatonin have antimutagenic activity?

The mutagenic potential of carbamazepine [CBZ] therapy has been evaluated invivo and in vitro. Analysis of chromosome aberrations [CA], sister chromatidexchanges [SCEs], mitotic and proliferation [PRI] indices were performed. Thein vivo was carried out on 30 patients with idiopathic epilepsy and undergoingtreatment with CBZ for different periods starting from 6 months up to 15years. Plasma CBZ levels were also determined for each patient. From theobserved results, it was suggested that CBZ monotherapy may lead to chromosomedamaging effects [genotoxic] and the use of melatonin as anti- mutagenic agentfor human protection against CBZ-induced chromosome damage should beconsidered