Evaluation of genotoxic potential of synthetic progestin chlormadinone acetate

Effect of Oral Contraceptive Pills on the Blood Serum Enzymes and DNA Damage in Lymphocytes Among Users

The continuous use of synthetic hormones as contraceptive pill or hormonal replacement therapy among women is increasing day by day. The widespread use of different formulations as oral contraceptives by women throughout their reproductive cycle has given rise to a serious concern for studying the effects of oral contraceptives on enzymatic profile and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes among users. The present study was carried out on women taking oral contraceptives. The study was based on the questionnaire having the information of reproductive history, fasting, age, health, nature of menstrual cycle, bleeding and other disease. The profile of the blood serum enzymes i.e. alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aminotransferases (SGOT and SGPT), serum proteins (albumin and globulin) and DNA damage in lymphocytes was studied among users and non-users. The results of the present study suggest that OCs not only effects enzymatic activity but also results in DNA damage that may vary with the duration of using oral contraceptives. A significant increase in LDH, GGT, SGPT, SGOT, globulin and decrease in ALP as well as albumin was found among users as compared to non-users. The observed DNA damage was more in users as compared to non-users. Hormonal contraceptives seem to exert DNA damage and also have significant effects on blood serum enzymes.

Removal of the toxic effects of chlormadinon acetate on the development of Drosophila melanogaster via the use of nordihydroguaiaretic acid

In this study, the effects of chlormadinon acetate (CMA) and CMA + nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) on various developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster were investigated. Different concentrations of CMA (1.0; 3.0; 5.0 and 10.0 μM/100 mL medium) and CMA + NDGA as the concentrations of CMA (1.0 + 1.0; 3.0 + 3.0; 5.0 + 5.0 and 10.0 + 10.0 μM/100 mL medium) were carried out during the developmental periods of the flies. When F(1) progeny of control and application groups were compared, CMA was found to extend the process of metamorphosis and decrease the total offspring numbers. However, these negative effects were inhibited by NDGA treatment at different concentrations. These results suggest that NDGA could effectively inhibit CMA-induced abnormalities in developmental stages of D. melanogaster. It was found that the difference between the groups was significantly important (p < 0.05).

Antigenotoxic effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid against chlormadinone acetate-induced genotoxicity in mice bone-marrow cells

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a phenolic lignan, was tested for its antigenotoxic potential against chlormadinone acetate (CMA)-induced genotoxic damage in mice bone-marrow cells. Doses of about 22.50 mg/kg body weight of CMA were given along with 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight of NDGA intraperitoneally. The treatment resulted in the reduction of sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberrations induced by CMA, suggesting an antigenotoxic potential of NDGA. Earlier studies show that CMA generates reactive oxygen species, responsible for genotoxic damage. The free radical-scavenging property of NDGA is responsible for the reduction of genotoxic damage induced by CMA in mice bone-marrow cells.

Antigenotoxic role of Centella asiatica L. extract against cyproterone acetate induced genotoxic damage in cultured human lymphocytes

The majority of the Indian population use traditional natural preparations derived from plant material for the treatment of various diseases, and for that reason it becomes necessary to assess the mutagenic potential or modulating action of plants extract when associated with other substances. The genotoxicity testing provides human a risk assessment. Earlier in vitro and in vivo studies reveal that the plant extracts from various parts of the plant play a modulating role in xenobiotic effects. Identification and characterization of some active principles may lead to the development of the strategies to reduce the risk for developing cancer in humans. Cyproterone acetate (CPA), a synthetic progestin is not only a genotoxic agent but also a tumor initiating agent. It is used in oral contraceptives formulations and also in the treatment of various sexual and metabolic disorders. In this context, the antigenotoxic effect of Centella asiatica L. extract was studied against the genotoxic effect induced by CPA on human lymphocytes using chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges as parameters. The treatment of the two doses of CPA, i.e. 20 and 30 microM was given along with the C. asiatica extract at the dosages of 1.075 x 10(-4), 2.125 x 10(-4), 3.15 x 10(-4) and 4.17 x 0(-4)g/ml of culture medium. A clear dose dependent decrease in the genotoxic damage of CPA was observed, suggesting a protective role of C. asiatica extract during CPA therapy. The results of the present study suggest that the plant extract per se do not have genotoxic potential, but can modulate the genotoxicity of CPA on human lymphocytes in vitro.

Anti-genotoxic effect of Ocimum sanctum L. extract against cyproterone acetate induced genotoxic damage in cultured mammalian cells

The anti-genotoxic effect of Ocimum sanctum L. extract was studied against the genotoxic effect induced by a synthetic progestin cyproterone acetate, on human lymphocytes using chromosomal aberrations, mitotic index, sister chromatid exchanges and replication index as a parameters. About 30 microM of cyproterone acetate was treated with O. sanctum L. infusion, at dosages of 1.075 x 10(-4), 2.125 x 10(-4) and 3.15 x 10(-4) g/ml of culture medium. A clear dose-dependent decrease in the genotoxic damage of cyproterone acetate was observed, suggesting a possible modulating role of the plant infusion. The results of the present study suggest that the plant infusion per se does not have genotoxic potential, but can modulate the genotoxicity of cyproterone acetate on human lymphocytes in vitro.

Genotoxic potential of medroxyprogesterone acetate in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Medroxyprogesterone acetate was studied at three different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 microM), for its genotoxic effects in human peripheral blood lymphocyte culture using chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges as parameters. Duplicate peripheral blood cultures were treated with three different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 microM) of medroxyprogesterone acetate. The study was carried out both in the absence as well as in the presence of metabolic activation (S9 mix) with and without NADP. Medroxyprogesterone acetate was found genotoxic at 5 and 10 microM in the presence of S9 mix with NADP. To study the possible mechanism of the genotoxicity of medroxyprogesterone acetate, superoxide dismutase and catalase at different doses were used separately and in combination with 10 microM of medroxyprogesterone at different doses in the presence of S9 mix with NADP. Superoxide dismutase treatment results in an increase of the genotoxic damage but catalase treatment reduce the genotoxic damage of medroxyprogesterone acetate. Catalase treatment in combination with superoxide dismutase also results in the further reduction of the genotoxic damage. The results of the present study reveal that medroxyprogesterone acetate is genotoxic only in the presence of metabolic activation (S9 mix) with NADP. Treatments with superoxide dismutase and catalase suggests the possible generation of reactive oxygen species by redox cycling of various forms of quinones, similar to estrogens, that are the results of aromatic hydroxylation by cytochrome P450s.

Protective effect of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) against norgestrel induced genotoxic damage

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is a phenolic lignan and possesses antioxidant and number of properties potentially useful to man. The effect of NDGA was studied against norgestrel induced genotoxic damage, using sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), chromosomal aberrations (CAs), mitotic index (MI) and replication index (RI) as parameters. Amounts of 5, 10 and 20 microM of norgestrel was tested for its genotoxic effect in the absence as well as presence of S9 mix, and was found to be genotoxic at 10 and 20 microM in the presence of S9 mix. Again, 10 microM of norgestrel was treated with 0.5 and 1 microM of NDGA, separately, in the presence of S9 mix. Similar treatment was given with 20 microM of norgestrel. Treatments given with NDGA result in the reduction of SCE, CA and increase of MI as well as RI, suggesting its protective action on human lymphocytes in vitro against the norgestrel induced genotoxic damage.

Genotoxic potential of ethinylestradiol in cultured mammalian cells

Ethinylestradiol, a steroidal estrogen, is widely used with various progestogens in oral contraceptives formulations. There are sufficient evidences for the carcinogenicity of ethinylestradiol in experimental animals. The reports on the genotoxic potential of ethinylestradiol are contradictory. Here in the present study we have tested the genotoxicity of ethinylestradiol in human lymphocytes using chromosomal aberrations (CAs), mitotic index (MI) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) as a parameter. The study was carried out in the absence, as well as in the presence, of rat liver microsomal fraction, with and without NADP. Ethinylestradiol was studied at three different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 microM) and was found non-genotoxic in the absence of metabolic activation (S9 mix) and in S9 mix without NADP. Ethinylestradiol was found to be genotoxic at 5 and 10 microM in the presence of S9 mix with NADP. To study the possible mechanism of the genotoxicity of ethinylestradiol, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were used separately and in combination along with 10 microM of ethinylestradiol at different doses. SOD treatment increased CAs and SCEs and decreases MI as compared with treatment with 10 microM of ethinylestradiol alone in the presence of S9 mix with NADP at both of the tested doses. CAT treatment decreased the frequencies of CAs and SCEs and increased MI, as compared with treatment with 10 microM of ethinylestradiol alone in the presence of S9 mix with NADP. CAT treatment in combination with SOD also decreased the frequencies of CAs and SCEs and increased MI suggesting a possible role of reactive oxygen species for the genotoxic damage.