Amelioration potential of Withania sonmifera root extract on hexavalent chromium induced micronucleus in Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1793)

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to infer the ameliorative potential of Withania somnifera (‘Ashwagandha’) against hexavalent chromium induced micronuclei in Channa punctatus. Methodology: After laboratory acclimatization of 15 days, C. punctatus (12.20 cm, 42 g) were maintained in six groups. Group I, served as control. Fishes of groups II and III were separately exposed to root extract of W. somnifera (3 mg l-1) and 96 hr-LC50/10 of Cr (VI), 7.89 mg l-1, respectively, for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr. Contrarily, the fish of groups IV, V and VI were exposed to 7.89 mg l-1 of Cr (VI) along with increasing concentrations of root extract of W. somnifera (1, 2, 3 mg l-1), respectively. Induction of micronuclei was assessed in fishes of all the six groups after stipulated exposure periods. Results: A significant induction (p<0.05) in micronuclei frequency was observed in Group-III as compared to the control. On contrary, there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in frequency of micronuclei induction with increasing concentrations of root extract of W. somnifera, as compared to Group-III, after stipulated exposure periods in a dose and time-dependent manner. Interpretation: Preliminary investigations evinced that the root extract of W. somnifera has O enough ameliorative potential against short term sub-lethal exposure to Cr (VI) induced genomic instability, i.e., micronuclei induction in C. punctatus.