PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ROSEMARY (ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS L.) EXTRACT OVER THE GENOTOXICITY INDUCED BY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE IN SWISS ALBINO MICE

Background: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating agent widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Its cytotoxic effects are the result of chemically reactive metabolites that alkylate DNA and protein, producing cross-links. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been widely accepted as one of the spices with highest antioxidant activity that play an important role to protect the human body against damage by reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Aim: This study aims at disclosing the protective impact of rosemary extract against CP-induced genotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. Methods: In this study, fifty young adult (6-8 weeks old) male Swiss albino mice weighing 20-24 g were randomized into five different groups. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd were treated for 10 consecutive days with sterile distilled water (0.2 ml\mouse) as negative control, CP (50 mg/Kg b. wt.) as positive control or Rosemary extract (1000mg/Kg b. wt.), respectively. The 4th group was given Rosemary extract (1000 mg/Kg b. wt.) for 7 days then cyclophosphamide (50 mg/Kg b. wt.) and rosemary (1000 mg/Kg b. wt.) in the same time for 3 days, while the 5th group was given cyclophosphamide (50mg/Kg b. wt.) and rosemary (1000mg/Kg b. wt.) in the same time for 10 days. The effects were evaluated by estimating serum the activity of transaminases and cytogenetically examination in bone marrow and spermatozoa cells as well. Results: The study revealed that CP administration in 2nd group caused significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum ALT and AST activities. Concomitant treatment with the tested extract significantly restored the activities of ALT and AST. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that the metaphase plates of CP-treated mice showed significantly (P < 0.05) high proportion of chromosomal aberrations and abnormal sperm morphology compared to control or rosemary treatment group mice. Conclusion: These findings highlight the protective impact exerted by rosemary extract against cellular and genotoxicity induced by CP in Swiss albino mice due to free radical-scavenging and antioxidant activities. The beneficial effect of rosemary may be due to either individual or combined effects of its constituents.