Comparative efficacy of Syzygium cuminiseed extracts in alleviating arsenic-induced hepatotoxicity and blood cell genotoxicity in Wistar albino rats

Abstract

Syzygium cumini is well known for its medicinal values in the indigenous Indian system of medicine. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of methanolic (SCM), ethanolic (SCE) and aqueous (SCA) extracts of Syzygium cumini seeds on arsenic-induced blood cell genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Rats were divided into five groups: (1) control, (2) arsenic, (3) SCM, (4) SCE and (5) SCA. After completion of 60 days treatment period, comet assays were performed on isolated blood lymphocytes and serum marker assays indicative of hepatic toxicity were carried out. Arsenic exposed rats expressed significantly higherDNA damage in their lymphocytes than the unexposed rats. Increased activities of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and decreased levels of total proteins were observed in arsenic exposed rats. Simultaneous administration of Syzygium cumini seed extracts significantly decreased the arsenic-induced DNA damage and hepatotoxicity. The amelioration of arsenic toxicity was more pronounced with methanolic extract compared to ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Syzygium cumini seeds.