The aim of this study was to investigate the potency of aquatic & alcoholic extracts of the leaves of Urtica pilulifera plant against mutagenecity of Mitomycine C (MMC) drug in mice.The genotoxic effects of three different concentrations 0.01, 0.1 & 0.5 mg/kg from aqueous or ethanolic extract were tested in mice. 0.01 mg/kg bw from either types of extracts were selected as non-genotoxic in comparison to control. Drug-plant extract interaction was tested using mitotic index & Chromosomal aberrations as bioindicators for detection of the potency of the plant extract in reduction of MMC-induction of cytogenetic effects. Two types of treatments were followed, either plant extracts were given before (2, 4, 6) days, or after (2, 4, 6) days, of treatment with MMC. The results revealed that 0.2 mg/kg of MMC significantly inhibited bone marrow cell division and increased the spontaneous levels of chromosomal aberration up to 20 times. Treatment of mice with aqueous or alcoholoic leaf-extract reduced significantly (p < 0.01) the genotoxic effects of MMC. This reduction was more pronounced in animals which were given the extract after treatment with MMC comparing to its treatment before the MMC exposure. These results indicated that Utrtica pilulifera leaves extract behave as bio-anti mutagen first degree and acting indirectly in the 2nd degree.
Chromosomal aberrations and bone marrow toxicity.
