Effect of grayanotoxin-III on mitotic activity of bone marrow cells of mice

ABSTRACT

Extract of Rhododendron species and honey obtained from such species which are used in folk medicine in Japan and Turkey contain Grayanotoxins. The effects of one of these toxins, grayanotixin-III [GTX-III], on the mitotic activity of bone marrow cells were investigated. The study was carried out on mice which were exposed to GTX-III at the dose of 0.15 mg/kg-1 daily for three weeks. It was shown that the mitotic index of bone marrow cells of mice was decreased by subchronic GTX-III administration and the decrease was statistically significant when compared with control [p<0.05]. As a result, it should be remembered, subchronic exposure to GTX-III, which was contained in toxic honey or extracts of Rhododendron species, suppressed mitotic activity of bone marrow cells of mice