From the clinical researcher’s desk

Introduction

Drug genotoxic profile testing is mandatory in India. The existing scenario justifies the need for conducting toxicity studies for medicinal herbs and chemicals used by mankind in any other means.

Objective

To determine the nutraceutical and the extent of the anti-clastogenic effect of Mulmina® against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity.

Methodology

The genotoxic nature of Mulmina® was determined in zebrafish embryos and mice models.

The embryotoxicity was assessed with the help of a comet assay.

In vivo genotoxic studies of Mulmina® in mice were carried out according to OECD guideline

The anticlastogenic activity of Mulmina® was determined with the help of in vivo micronuclei (MN) assay and blood parameters were also assessed.

Key observations

Embryotoxicity findings demonstrated that dose-dependent gestation of zebrafish embryos in a medium comprising Mulmina® did not induce embryotoxicity.

At 96 h exposure with different concentrations of Mulmina® (0.39, 0.78, 1.56, 3.12, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100%), 0.39 to 6.25% showed 0-75% embryos lethality. Thus, LC50 was considered as <6.25%.

Comet assay data demonstrated no genotoxicity of Mulmina® compared with control (H2O2).

Genotoxic effect of Mulmina® was not shown in cells of zebrafish embryos exposed at a concentration (0.78% and 1.56%).

In-vivo genotoxic studies did not show genotoxicity in groups treated with Mulmina® (2000 and 1000 mg/kg) and % micronuclei frequency (% MN) was decreased in these groups compared to control.

Cyclophosphamide-induced groups treated with various concentrations of Mulmina® (40 and 80 mL/kg), showed significantly decreased % MN frequency when compared to the control group and the blood parameters such as white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), platelet count, hemoglobin were significantly increased than the control group.

Cyclophosphamide-induced groups pre-treated and post-treated with various concentrations of Mulmina® (40 and 80 mL/kg), showed significantly decreased % MN frequency when compared to the control group and the blood parameters (WBC, RBC, PLT, HGB) were significantly increased than the control group.

Mulmina® showed potent antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic effect by decreasing the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) induced by cyclophosphamide due to free radical scavenging activity.

Conclusion

Both doses of Mulmina® did not show any genotoxicity both in vitro or in vivo assay.

The study demonstrated the anticlastogenic effects of Mulmina® against cyclophosphamide-induced mice.

Mulmina® is composed of Mangifera indica fruit pulp, Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa which are powerful antioxidants andvpossesses free-radical scavenging ability, and were responsible for reducing the cyclophosphamide-induced damage of DNA in the present study.