Potential protective effect of grape seed extract against acrylonitrile-induced mutagenicity in rats

Acrylonitrile [ACN], an environmental toxic pollutant, has been detected in drinking water, food products and occupational environment. ACN is reported as a potent in vivo and in vitro mutagen and carcinogen in human and experimental animals. Grape seed proanthocyanidine extract [GSE] is a highly bioavailable biologically active polyphenolic bioflavonoid. It is a potent antioxidant posses a broad spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic activities against free radicals, DNA damage and oxidative stress. The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible in vivo protective effects of GSE against ACN-induced micronucleus and chromosomal aberrations in male rats. Animals were exposed to a single s/c dose of ACN [115 mg/kg body weight]. Another two groups of animals were pretreated with GSE in a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight orally for seven consecutive days prior to ACN administration [single s/c dose of 115 mg/kg body weight]. The animals were subjected to cytogenetic analysis in bone marrow by micronucleus induction and chromosomal aberrations assays. The present results indicate that ACN significantly induced micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations. Pretreatment with GSE significantly improved these mutagenic effects in a dose related manner