Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh - 202002 (U.P.)
Synthetic progestins have widespread use in medicine but their side effects are often debatable. Norethynodrel is a synthetic progestin used either as single entity drug or in combination with estrogen such as ethinylestradiol in oral contraceptives. It induces chromosomal aberrations (Cas) sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and inhibits lymphocytes proliferation in the presence of metabolic activation (S9 mix) in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The genotoxic effects of steroids can be reduced by the use of various antioxidiants and natural plant products. Aqueous extract of Ocimum sanctum L. leaves have been used for the treatment of a variety of conditions since ancient times. Pharmacological evidence shows that Sacred Basil possesses immunomodulating, hepatoprotective, chemopreventive, anticancer, antioxidant, antimutagenic and antigenotoxic properties.
The infusion concentration of 1.075x10−4, 2.127x10−4 and 3.15x10−4 g/ml of culture medium were tested against 60 µg/ml of norethynodrel separately in the presence of S9 mix. Aqueous plant infusion results in the reduction of the genotoxic damage by norethynodrel. Our study on other synthetic progestins such as ethynodioldiacetate, lynerstrenol and medro-xyprogesterone acetate showed genotoxic effects only in the presence of S9 mix. Estrogens such as estradiol-17β and ethinylestradiol undergo aromatic hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 and generate various forms of quinines. Quinones, via redox cycling in the presence of NADP generates reactives oxygen species (ROS). Pharmacologically active compounds of O.sanctum L. like eugenol, rosmarinic acid and epigenin are excellent antioxidants. Flavonoids orientin and vicenin showed a protective effect against radiation induced genotoxic damage in cultured human lymphocytes by scavenging free radicals. The infusion of medicinal plants can modulate DNA damage when associated with other substances.
