Abstract
The effect of orally administered rocket leafs juice on the mitotic index (MI) and micronuclei (Mn) formation was studied in white mice bone marrow . The effect of juice to retarded the abnormalities induced by cyclophosphamide (Cp) administered orally was studied as well .
Results revealed that juice (0.1 , 0.25 , 0.5) ml had no effect on both MI and Mn , while using Cp at 50 mg / Kg body weight resulted in lowering the MI to 32 % of the natural values . Natural repairing process restored some of the MI values but still low compared to natural state (Negative control ) . Oral administration of juice before treating with mutagen (J/Cp) was able to restore 86 % of the normal value , while administering the juice after treating the animals with mutagen (Cp/J) restored 55 % of the control value . The administration of juice with mutagen (J+Cp) restored 82 % of the natural value . Treatment of animals with Cp raised the Mn formation nine times that of its natural frequency . The frequency , however , reduced to only 7 times after 6 days due to natural repair processes . Using the juice before or after treatment with mutagen (J/Cp) , (Cp/J) or (J+Cp) were unable to reduce the Mn count to the natural level , although the reduction was statistically significant at (P < 0.01) as compared to the positive control .
