Antimutagenic Activity of Terminalia chebula Fruit Extract

Conventional drugs available for the treatment of cancer exhibit cytotoxicity as well as mutations in normal healthy body cells. The fruit extract of Terminalia chebula has been shown to have anticarcinogenic activity along with antimicrobial activities etc. To obtain experimental evidence on the therapeutic efficacy of the fruit extract, we examined its effect on chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) formation in C57BL hybrid mice, to assess the anti mutagenic activity. In MN formation test, single application of Terminalia chebula methanolic fruit extract at different doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg dry weight 24 hours prior to i.p administration of cyclophosphamide (CP) at the dose of 50mg/kg significantly reduced the frequency of MNCPE and at the same time significantly increased PCE/NCE ratio compared to CP alone. Concerning CA test, fruit extract at all different doses significantly reduced the % CA and at the same time increased the % degree of protection in dose dependent manner in bone marrow cells of mice as compared to CP alone treated group. However Terminalia chebula fruit extract alone did not show any chromosomal aberration and/or micronucleus formation. These results therefore, indicate the antimutagenic activity of fruit extract. The anti mutagenic activity observed in this study can be attributed to the presence of flavonoids and polyphenols. Thus it could be a better choice to treat cancer without inducing mutations in healthy body cells.