Abstract

TO ASSESS THE CURATIVE POTENTIAL OF OCIMUM AND PHYLLANTHUS AGAINST CHEMICAL CLASTOGENS

Kiran Chauhan* and Sanjay Kumar Narang

ABSTRACT

Plants extracts are used extensively in traditional medicines are increasingly being screened for their role in modulating the activity of environmental genotoxicants. The property of preventing carcinogenesis has been reported in many plant extracts. The observation of a close association between carcinogenesis and mutagenesis has extended the survey to include plant extracts and plant products able to modify the process of mutagenesis, which involves alteration in the genetic material. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-genotoxic effect of Ocimum sanctum and Phyllanthus emblica on Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and Ethyl Methanesulphonate (EMS) induced genotoxicity and its impact on oxidative stress. Ocimum sanctum and Phyllanthus emblica are found throughout India and in many parts of world. O. sanctum and Phyllanthus emblica are used for the treatment of various health indications. In this lieu, it is of prime importance to investigate the safety aspects of the plant extracts. Hence, the present study was conducted to investigate the possible genotoxic potential of Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and Ethyl Methanesulphonate (EMS) in mice bone marrow and its minimization by these plant extracts. Natural plant products may, apart from inducing mutations, modify the action of other known mutagens on the living organisms by 1) activating the existing mutagens within the cell, 2) inhibiting the production of mutagens in the cell, 3) synergizing the activity of existing mutagens, or 4) activating the promutagens within the cell into mutagens.

Keywords: Phyllanthus emblica, Ocimum sanctum, Genotoxicity, Mutagenesis.