Abstract

Ribavirin and acyclovir are two wide spectrum antiviral drugs. The present work aimed to draw attentions toward the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of antiviral drugs. Also, it aimed to evaluate the cytogenetic/genotoxicity relatively to dose concentration (low, therapeutic, and high). Cytotoxicity of test antiviral drugs was carried out using human lymphocytes and macrophages. Ribavirin and Acyclovir were tested (low dose, 5 µg/ml; therapeutic dose, 10 µg/ml and high dose, 20 µg/ml) against macrophage cells and human lymphocytes. Chromosomal aberrations were significantly recorded in human lymphocytes as tetrapolidy, pulverized metaphase and dicentric chromosomal aberrations. These aberrations due to Ribavirin post-treatment are dose dependant. 

Key words: Ribavirin, acyclovir, lymphocytes, chromosomal aberration