Protective Efficacy of Andrographolide on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene Induced Genotoxicity in Bone Marrow Cells of Golden Syrian Hamsters

Aim of the present study was to investigate the anticlastogenic and antigenotoxic effect of andrographolide in the bone marrow cells of golden Syrian hamsters treated with 7,12dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). The frequency of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) was used as cytogenetic end point to assess the anticlastogenic effect of andrographolide in hamsters treated with DMBA. The antigenotoxic potential of andrographolide was assessed by analyzing the DNA damage in hamsters treated with DMBA using Single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). The status of phase I (cytochromes P450 and b5) and phase II [glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and reduced glutathione (GSH)] detoxification agents, lipid peroxidation by-products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TBARS]) and antioxidants [glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and GSH] were used as supportive biochemical end points to assess the antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic effect of andrographolide in hamsters treated with DMBA. We noticed elevated MnPCEs frequency, increased DNA damage (bone marrow) and an increase in the status of liver phase I and phase II detoxification agents, and plasma lipid peroxidation by-products and antioxidants in hamsters treated with DMBA alone. Oral pretreatment of andrographolide for five days to hamsters treated with DMBA significantly protected DMBA induced clastogenesis and genotoxicity as well as above said biochemical abnormalities. The present study thus demonstrated the anticlastogenic and antigenotoxic potential of andrographolide in the bone marrow cells of hamsters treated with DMBA.