Argemone oil induces genotoxicity in mice

Context: Argemone mexicana L. is native to Mexico and the plant extracts are used in traditional medicine in India and South American countries. Argemone oil (AO) is a common adulterant of mustard oil in India and causes serious pathophysiological consequences leading to outbreaks of epidemic dropsy among consumers. In vivo cytogenetic studies on the toxicological effects of AO and its component alkaloids are limited. Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the safety of AO by assessment of their in vivo genotoxic potential in bone marrow cells of mice. Materials and methods: AO mixed in corn oil in the proportions of 0.01, 0.1, and 1?ml AO/kg body weight in a total volume of 10?ml/kg body weight and a single undiluted dose of AO (10?ml/kg body weight) were administered intraperitoneally in separate groups of male Swiss Albino mice for 24?h. In addition, a single concentration of sanguinarine (SG) (50?mg/kg body weight) was also administered. Genotoxicity was evaluated by chromosome aberration (CA) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) tests. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) differential technique was used to study the effect on cell replication by the calculation of average generation time (AGT). Results: The minimum effective concentrations that produced significant frequencies of CA and SCE were 0.1 and 0.01?ml/kg, respectively. AO and SG induced an insignificant increase of AGT indicating that they are non-cytotoxic in the concentrations tested.

Discussion and conclusion: Our results confirm that AO is genotoxic even at low concentrations and its usage should be checked.