Activity assessment antimutagenic / mutagenic pomegranate (punica granatum l.) Through the in vivo test micronucleus

Abstract

Currently, Punica granatum Linn, known as pomegranate, has been introduced in the diet of the population because its therapeutic properties used as an alternative therapy capable of acting against various diseases, including cancer. The fruit is rich in phenolic compounds which give many biological effects including antioxidant activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the antimutagenic/mutagenic activity of aqueous fruit extract in bone marrow from male Swiss mice in DNA damage induced by the alkylating agent cyclophosphamide (CP) through the micronucleus test in vivo. Animals (five animals/group) were treated for a period of 15 consecutive days with aqueous extract of pomegranate (gavage) on day 15 received NaCl (0,9%) or CP (25 mg/kg) intraperitoneally and sacrificed after an interval of 24 hours and made the material his bone marrow for analysis of the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE). The results obtained from the study show a reduction in the number of MNPCE in animals pretreated with aqueous extract of pomegranate, under the study conditions described. There were no indications of mutagenic activity of the fruit on the DNA suggesting that future studies on the mechanism of action of specific compounds so that we can ensure the benefits of its use to the population.

Keywords

• punica granatum. antimutagenicity. cyclophosphamide. micronucleus test.