Inhibition of clastogenic effect of cyclophosphamide and mitomycin C by Neem leaf-extract in mice

Abstract

Azadirachta indica commonly known as ‘Neem’ is well known for its medicinal properties in the indigenous Indian system of medicine. Almost every part of the tree has some beneficial use. The anticlastogenic activity of ‘Neem’ against cyclophosphamide (CP) and mitomycin C (MMC) was studied in vivo in bone marrow cells of mice. Aqueous leaf-extracts of A. indica were injected intraperitoneally at doses 3, 6, 12 and 24 mg/kg body weight. Simultaneously, two known clastogens CP (10 mg/kg) and MMC (1.5 mg/kg) were administered individually to animals treated with 6 and 12 mg/kg of the leaf-extract. The end-points screened were chromosomal aberrations and damaged (aberrant) cells. Neem leaf-extract per se was found to be a weak clastogen; 6 and 12 mg/kg of the leaf-extract inhibited the clastogenicity of CP and MMC. The extent of inhibition was different for the two clastogens. An ANOVA test showed that the reduction in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was significantly less when the leaf-extract was given in combination with CP. MMC co-administered with the leaf-extract showed a trend that was not statistically significant. The difference may be attributed to the degree of modulation of bioactivation of cytochrome P-450 enzymes, or the repair of damaged DNA or a difference in detoxification of the reactive species of the two genotoxicants. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.