Protective Effect of Protocatechuic Acid in Genotoxicity-Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is commonly utilized as a solvent, a refrigerant, and a dry-cleaning agent. However, its genotoxic effect has been well documented. The present work was designed to assess the genotoxic effect of carbon tetrachloride in the bone marrow of rats. The safety and the possible protective effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA) in the genotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were evaluated using a micronucleus assay. Rats were divided into six groups where groups I and II served as the control. Group III was exposed to CCl4 only at 3mL/kg intraperitoneally. Groups IV and V rats were pretreated with PCA at 10mg/kg and 20 mg/kg respectively before administering CCl4. Group VI received PCA only (20mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. At the end of the experiment, a micronucleus assay was carried out. There was a significant MnPCE in the bone marrow of CCl4-treated rats as compared with control (p<0.05). The administration of PCA at the doses of 10 and 20mg/kg significantly reduced the MnPCE when compared with the group treated with CCl4 (3ml/kg) only (p<0.05). The data provided in this study considered PCA to be relatively safe, non-genotoxic and can modulate the genetic damage involved in CCl4 toxicity by decreasing the frequency of micronucleated cells.