Antimutagenic Activity of Olive Leaf Aqueous Extract by Ames Test

Medicinal plants are an important source of substances which are claimed to induce anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The leaves of the olive tree (Oleaeur opaea) have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times and research has suggested that olive leaf extracts have antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties. In this study, Olive leaf aqueous extracts were screened for their antimutagenic activity against sodium azide and 2-nitrofluorene by Ames test in presence and absence of rat microsomal liver enzyme (S9). Each assay was performed in triplicates simultaneously and the percentage of inhibition was determined using the formula [1-T/M] ×100. The results showed that olive leaf aqueous extracts can inhibit mutagenic agents of sodium azide and 2-nitrofluorene. Antimutagenic activity was increased significantly when there were S9. Olive leaf extracts with the inhibition of 54.21% sodium azide and 51.62 %, 2-nitrofluorene showed high potential in decreasing mutagenic agents.