EFFECTS OF TELFARIA OCCIDENTALIS ON THE FORMATION OF MICRONUCLEATED POLYCHROMATIC ERYTHROCYTES IN MICE BONE MARROW

Abstract

Chromosomal mutation and oxidative DNA damage have been associated with some arsenic linked human diseases. This study investigated the effects of T. occidentalis on the formation of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in laboratory mice. The mice were treated with or without sodium arsenite and/or T. occidentalis and the effects were assessed in the bone marrow of mice using micronucleus assay. In addition, the effects on the activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and certain heamatological parameters were also evaluated. Certain vitamins were extracted by chemical methods and their presence was detected using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the leaf extract of T. occidentalis. The mice treated with sodium arsenite alone and those administered with sodium arsenite and T. occidentalis had micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte (mPCEs) counts of 21.00 ± 2.00 and 12.67 ± 2.67 respectively. The ALP and GGT concentrations of the mice treated with T. occidentalis and sodium arsenite shows about two times decrease than those treated with sodium arsenite alone.Treatment of mice with sodium arsenite and/or T. occidentalis revealed varying degree of deviations in the mice haematological granulocytes (GRAN), lymphocytes (LYMPH), haemoglobin (HGB), platelet (PLT), white blood count (WBC) and mean platelet volume (MPV). Ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, β carotene and riboflavin were shown to be present in appreciable quantity in the leaf extract as compared to the standard compounds. The result shows that T. occidentalis was able to suppress the chromosomal damage caused by sodium arsenite (SA)-induced toxicity in mice. Hence, T. occidentalis may be used as food supplement for protection against SA induced toxicity.