Genotoxicity assessment of fresh Khat leaves extract in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines

Abstract

Due to its stimulating and pleasurable effects, chewing the leaves of khat (Catha edulis) is a widespread habit among the people of East Africa and Arabian Peninsula. The aim of this study was to assess the genotoxicity of the fresh khat leaves extract in CHO cell lines using two cytogenetic endpoints, Chromosomal aberrations (CAs) assay and Micronucleus test (MN). The chromosome aberrations and micronucleus induction test were performed without any metabolic activation system. Data were analyzed by Chi-square using SPSS version 24.0. High concentrations of fresh khat leaves extract (500 and 5000 μg mL−1) were found to reduce the mitotic index (MI) significantly (p<0.05), while only the highest concentration (5000 μg mL−1) was found to induce chromosomal aberrations. In contrast, the results of MN induction test showed no significant micronuclei formation after treatment with different concentrations, however, the cytochalasin-B proliferation index (CBPI) was found to be affected by the highest concentration of the fresh khat leaves extract. Only high concentrations of fresh khat leaves extract induced chromosomal aberrations and dicentrics, rings chromosomes, breaks and exchanges were the main types of aberrations induced by fresh khat leaves extract.