Antigenotoxic Evaluation of Spathodea campanulata Flower Extract against Doxorubicin Induced Genotoxicity by Chromosomal Aberration and Micronucleus Assay in Albino Rats

Abstract

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a broad-spectrum anthracycline chemotherapeutic agent used in human cancers but exerts myelosuppression and genotoxicity as an imperative adverse effect due to increased levels of oxidative damage, inflammation and apoptosis. Doxorubicin has a clastogenic tendency. Antioxidant materials of natural origin are reported to have anticlastogenic effects. Spathodea campanulata is abundant in antioxidants with high levels of phenol, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Therefore, assuming these qualitative aspects for being a probably effective chemoprotectant and antigenotoxic substance, the hydroalcoholic extract of S. campanulata flower (SCFE) was evaluated for genotoxicity in albino rats induced by DOX using chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assay. SCFE has been found to allay chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei formation, DNA damage and apoptosis in bone marrow forte induced by DOX administration. In-vivo chromosomal aberration assay showed that incidents of aberration significantly reduced post-treatment. Pre-treatment with SCFE (200 and 400 mg/kg) reduced the micronucleus polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) and resulted in inhibition of micronuclei formation. PCE/NCE ratio has been found to be decreased in disease control animals while improved in the SCFE treatment group animals. SCFE had an excellent recovery effect on the genotoxicity caused by to anticancer drug doxorubicin. The study advocates that SCFE has encouraged chemoprotective efficacy against DOX-induced toxicities. Further studies including characterization of active moiety shall shape its future indication as an adjuvant in cancer chemotherapy.