Journal of Environmental Biology

Possible modulating action of plant infusion of Ocimum sanctum L. on chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges induced by chlormadinone acetate in human lymphocytes in vitro

 

Yasir Hasan Siddique*, Gulshan Ara, Tanveer Beg and Mohammad Afzal

Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh - 202 002, India

(Received: August 22, 2006; Revised received: April 22, 2007; Accepted: May 06, 2007)

Abstract: Chlormadinone acetate (CMA) is a synthetic progesterone analogue. It has its usage in oral contraceptives formulations and also for estrous synchronization of animals. The aim? of the present study is to study the anti- genotoxic activity of the plant infusion against the CMA? induced genotoxic damage on cultured human lymphocytes, using chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCFs) as parameters. For chromosomal aberration analysis, the treatment of 40 mM of CMA was associated with 4.33% abnormal metaphases. The treatment of 40 mM of CMA, separately with 1.075 x10^-4, 2.125 x10^-4 and 3.15x10^-4 gm l^-1? of plant infusion results in the reduction of the number of abnormal metaphases i.e. 2.67%, 2.00% and 1.67% respectively. For sister chromatid exchange analysis, the frequency of sister chromatid exchange per cell (SCE_S / Cell) for the treatment of 40 mM of CMA was 6.43. The treatment of 40 mM of CMA, separately with 1.075 x10^-4, 2.125 x10^-4 and 3.15 x10^-4 gml^{-1? of} plant infusion results in the significant? reduction of the frequency of SCE_S /Cell i.e. 3.76, 3.01 and 2.94, respectively, as compared to the CMA (40 mM) treatment alone(6.43) .The used dosages of plant infusion did not increase chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges at significant level? as compared to the untreated. The results of the present study suggest that the plant infusion per se does not have genotoxic potential, but can modulate the genotoxicity of chlormadinone acetate in human lymphocytes in vitro.

Key words:??? Ocimum sanctum, Chlormadinone acetate, Aqueous extract, Human lymphocytes, Genotoxicity

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