mutagenic effect of khat and the protective effect of vitamin C.

ABSTRACT

Khat [Catha edulis Forsk], is the a flowering evergreen tree or large shrub, which grows in the Horn of Africa and southwestern Arabia. Vitamin C. is one of the available, famous and cheapest antioxidants. The present experimental animal study is designed to observe the mutagenic changes due to chewing fresh khat, and the possible protective effect of vitamin C. Thirty mice were used in this study, they were divided into three groups; the first one [10 mice] was given khat extract intra gastric as a single daily dose for thirty days, the second group [10 mice] was given khat extract and vitamin C. by the same route dose, and period, the third group was considered as a control group, it was given distilled water by the same route and period. The animals were sacrificed after the designated period, the bone marrow were extracted from the femora, and prepared for microscopic examination [chromosomal study and micronuclei level]. generally there is slight decrease of the body weight, the chromosomal study revealed decrease of the mitotic index, deletion type of structural aberration, and increase in the micronuclei level. The protective effect of vitamin C. is evident by the increase of the mitotic index, decrease percentage of the detected aberration and micronuclei level