Modulatory effects of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry and Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Ebrem. on toxicity induced by chromium trioxide

Hexavalent chromium trioxide is known to cause diseases like cancer and specific biological effects on the respiratory system. It induces oxidative stress and lead to formation of stable Cr-DNA adducts that contribute to its cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. In the present study, the antigenotoxic effects of Indian spices viz. Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry and Cinnamomum tamala Nees & Ebrem. was evaluated using the Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay against CrO3. Roots were given three kinds of treatment. In pre-treatment, roots were first treated with different concentrations of methanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum (MSA) and Cinnamomum tamala (MCT) (0.1%, 0.50% and 1%) for 2 h followed by chromium trioxide treatment (CrO3-8 ppm, 2 h). In post-treatment roots were first treated with CrO3 (8 ppm, 2 h) followed by different concentrations (0.1%, 0.50% and 1%) of MSA and MCT extract for 2 h. In simultaneous treatment, the root tips are treated with CrO3 (8 ppm) and different concentrations of MSA and MCT extract (0.1%, 0.50% and 1%) simultaneously for 2 h. The treatment of roots with 8 ppm CrO3 served as positive control. The effects of pre-, postand simultaneous treatment of MSA and MCT extracts resulted in a dosedependent decrease in chromosomal aberrations frequency.