GC-MS Analysis and Evaluation of Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Activity of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex. Benth: An Endemic Medicinal Plant of Kashmir Himalaya, India

Abstract

Herbal medicines as the major remedy in traditional system of medicine have been used in medical practices since antiquity. The natural products remain an important source of new drugs, new drug leads and new chemical entities. The ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa was evaluated for mutagenic and antimutagenic assay against mice pre-treated with 1/4th LD50 (117.5 mg/kg bw) of ethyl methane sulphonate by micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assay. Mice were treated with ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa (Ab-EAE) (100, 200 300 & 400 mg/kg bw) for 30 days. Without the doses of EMS, no mutagenic effects were observed in blood and bone marrow samples of the mice. But Ab-EAE showed antimutagenic effects on EMS induced mutagenicity in mice. It was observed that high doses of Ab-EAE showed protective effects. The reduction profiles in the EMS induction MN at concentration of ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg bw) were estimated as 2%, 4.9%, 16.4% and 20.7% respectively. It can be concluded from the study that ethyl acetate extract of Ajuga bracteosa exhibited no mutagenic effects but only possessing antimutagenic effects. This antimutagenic activity is an induction of medicinal relevance.