Abstract

Zerumbone (ZER) is derived from Zingiber zerumbet smith from the Zingiberaceae family. It has been shown to have anti-cancer and apoptosis-inducing properties against various human tumour cells. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of ZER on cisplatin-induced clastogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rat bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) using micronucleus test (MN). Animals treated with two ZER doses for 4 consecutive days plus a single dose of cisplatin following treatment, presented a non-significant effects of ZER on cisplatin-induced clastogenesis. The results also indicated that ZER has no clastogenic effects on rat bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes after 4 days treatment with 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight when compared to one dose cisplatin of 45 mg/kg body weight.On the other hand, significant decrease in the number of PCE was observed in alltreatment groups, indicating cytotoxicity of ZER and cisplatin. Under the present experimental conditions, ZER could not prevent cisplatin-induced clastogenesis in rat.

Key words: Clastogenicity, micronucleus, micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs), zerumbone.

Abbreviation

MNPCEs, Micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes; ZER,zerumbone; CC, column chromatography; HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; LCMS, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry; MTD, maximum tolerable dose; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; NCE, normochromatic erythrocytes; PCE,polychromatic erythrocytes; MN, micronuclei.