ANTI-GENOTOXIC EFFECT OF ASCORBIC ACID AGAINST 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXY ACETIC ACID IN MICE

Abstract

2,4 Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the majority used selective herbicide all over the world. The antigenotoxic effect of vitamin C against 2,4-D on male mice was studied by using chromosomal aberration, head sperm abnormalities, and comet assay. Animals were separated into two groups, namely, the control and the treated groups. The treated groups were divided into five groups of 6 animals each, namely; the vitamin C (100 mg/kg) group, 2,4-D (3.3 mg/kg) group, 2,4-D (6.6 mg/kg) group, 3.3 mg/kg 2,4-D + vitamin C group and 6.6 mg/kg 2,4-D + vitamin C group. All groups administered orally for five successive days, animals were sacrificed and dissected 24 h and 48 h after the last treatment for chromosomal aberration and comet assay. For sperm abnormalities, another groups of animals (5 in each) were treated with the above treatments and sacrificed 35 days after administration of the last dose. The tested doses of 2,4-D showed a significant dose–dependant raise in the percentage of chromosomal aberration in bone marrow cells, head sperm abnormalities and DNA single strand breaks in blood lymphocytes. Administration with vitamin C showed a decline in all parameters. In conclusion, vitamin C have protective effect against 2,4-D genotoxicity and supplementation of diet with vitamin C might be helpful to 2,4-D exposed population.