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Abstract

ABSTRACT:Cancer is considered as one of the most dreadful diseases of the 20th century and is a major concern. Chemotherapy is the most common modality used for cancer treatment, but is unable to achieve satisfactory effects because of its severe side effects and dose-limiting toxicity. Ample evidence shows that herbal medicine has evolved as a solution for cancer chemoprevention and new drug development. Crocus sativus is reported to be useful in treating various human disorders. It's main constituents have memory improving, anti-oxidant, anti-depressant and anti-tumor properties. The present study was therefore, carried out to unveil the protective potential of saffron in terms of the chromosome damage in tumor bearing mice and cytotoxicity using mice skin cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Chromosomal aberration assay was carried out to unveil the genotoxicity of various saffron extracts. MTT-cytotoxicity assay was carried out to explore the cytotoxicity of the saffron extracts using human peripheral blood lymphocytes and mice skin cells. As compared to standard drug 35mg/kg, 65mg/kg, 165mg/kg and 200mg/kg dosage of saffron stigma were found to produce statistically lower mean aberrant metaphases (p<0.05). Besides, 65mg/kg, 165mg/kg and 200mg/kg dosage of saffron bulb were found to produce statistically lower mean aberrant metaphases (p<0.05). MTT cytotoxicity assay of mice skin cells revealed maximum cytoprotection by 20% methanol stigma and minimum cytotoprotection by 100% saffron bulb extract. MTT cytotoxicity assay of lymphocytes revealed minimum cytoprotection by 100% saffron bulb and maximum cytoprotection by 100% methanol stigma.