Protective effects of solvent fractions of Mentha spicata (L.) leaves evaluated on 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide induced chromosome damage and apoptosis in mouse bone marrow cells

Abstract

Spearmint leaves (Mentha spicata L.) contain high levels of antioxidants that are known to protect against both exogenous and endogenous DNA damage. In this study, the protective effects of the hexane fraction (HF), chloroform fraction (CF) and ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) in an ethanol extract from M. spicata were evaluated against 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) induced chromosome damage and apoptosis in bone marrow cells of Swiss albino mice. Two (EAF; 80 and 160 mg/ kg body weight -bw) or three (HF and CF; 80, 160 and 320 mg/ kg bw) doses of solvent fractions or vehicle control (25% DMSO in water) were administered orally for five consecutive days. Upon the sixth day, 4-NQO was injected intraperitoneally. The animals were killed the following day. Other control groups were comprised of animals treated with either the vehicle control or the various doses of solvent fractions, but with no 4-NQO treatment. 4-NQO induced micro-nucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) in all the test groups. However, pre-treatment of animals with the solvent fractions significantly reduced the 4-NQO-induced MnPCEs as well as the percentage of apoptotic cells. The reduction of both MnPCE and apoptosis was more evident following the pre-treatment of animals with 160 mg/kg bw EAF.

Anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract of stoechospermum marginatum (c. agardh) kutzing in rat

“…While staining, mature erythrocytes look as yellowish brown so called as normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) and young erythrocytes seem to be bluish so called as polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). 11 Whereas, pretreatment with ethanol extract of S. marginatum followed by 4-NQO treated groups were found to be significantly reduced the 4-NQO enhanced MnPCEs frequency about 12 to 73%. Hence, the highest reduction against 4-NQO enhanced MnPCEs was observed at the dose of 640mg/kgbw (about 73%) and lowest at the dose of 160mg/kgbw (about 12%).…”

“…The kneecap was gently cut and the marrow cells of the femur bones was flushed into 2mL fetal bovine serum for the micronucleus assay based on the protocol reported in our previous publication. 11 There are 2,500 polychromatic erythrocytes (with or without micronuclei) and a corresponding number of normal chromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) were scored in both experimental and control animal through light microscope.…”

Antimutagenic and Antiapoptotic Effects of Aqueous Root Extract of Inula racemosa Hook. f. on 4-NQO-Induced Genetic Damage in Mice

“…After 24 hours of 4-NQO treatment, all the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The mouse bone marrow assay was carried out by the method of Schmid [11] and their procedure was briefly explained in an earlier publication [12]. For each animal (experimental/control), 2500 polychromatic erythrocytes (with or without micronuclei) and a corresponding number of normal chromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) were scored under a light microscope.…”

“…After 24 hours, both femurs were removed from the animals under light diethylether anesthesia. The bone marrow cells were flushed out into phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and the cells were prepared for the detection of apoptotic cells based on the protocol reported in our previous publication [12]. …”

Protective effects ofMentha spicataagainst nicotine-induced toxicity in liver and erythrocytes of Wistar rats

“…Mentha spicata L. as perennial aromatic plant is distributed across the Europe, Africa, Australia and North America. For centuries, traditional M. spicata has been used for gastrointestinal discomfort, stomach and chest pain, and suppression of indigestion symptoms (Samarth and Kumar 2003;Arumugam and Ramesh 2009). The mint plant is also known for its insecticidal, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet properties (Papachristos and Stamopoulos ; Özgen et al 2006;Tognolini et al 2006).…”