Evaluation of Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Potentials of Uscharin in Male Albino Mice

Uscharin is a new glycoside terpenoid compound extracted from the latex of Calotropis procera. Latex-extract has proved to have several therapeutic effects and has been used as insecticide and moluscicide. This study aimed to evaluate Uscharin genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in bone marrow cells of SWR/J albino mice. Uscharin was administered orally to six groups of male mice at three dose levels (1.25, 2.5 or 5 mg /kg body weight) for two time durations (24 and 48h).Uscharin caused significant increase in the number of cells with structural aberrations over the control. The increase was dose-dependent. The most frequent types of structural aberrations were centromeric attenuation and chromosome breakage. The number of cells with numerical aberrations (mainly polyploidy) increased significantly compared to control. The high incidence of polyploidy indicates the carcinogenic potential of Uscharin. It also caused a significant dose-related decrease in the mitotic activity indicating its cytotoxic potential. In conclusion, Uscharin may have a genotoxic and cytotoxic potentials which is demonstrated by the significant increases in chromosomal aberrations and the decrease in mitotic activity.