Investigation of effects of essential oils of Cumin (cuminum cyminum) and Wild Thyme (thymbra spicata) on human lymphocyte chromosomes

The aim of this study was to investigate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of essential oils of T.spicata and C. cyminum on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Human peripheral blood lymphocyte cells were treated with 0.05μl/ml, 0.10μl/ml, 0.15μl/ml, 0.20μl/ml concentrations of essential oils of T.spicata and C. cyminum for 24 h. A significant increase was observed for induction of chromosomal aberration frequency in all treatments of essential oils of T.spicata and C. Cyminum concentrations for 24 h comparing with the negative control and mitomycin C (MMC, 0.3µg/ml) which was used as positive control. Chromatid and chromosome breaks, sister chromatid union, fragment and chromatid exchange were observed in all treatment concentrations. Essential oils of T.spicata and C. Cyminum decreased the mitotic index (MI) in all the concentrations and treatment times when compared with control and solvent control.  Our results suggest that essential oils of T.spicata and C. cyminum have clastogenic potential for human lymphocytes chromosomes in-vitro .

[1]  B. Demirci,et al.  Chemical Composition and In Vitro Cytotoxic, Genotoxic Effects of Essential Oil from Urtica dioica L. , 2012, Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.

[2]  J. Savage.  An Introduction to Chromosomal Aberrations , 2011 .

[3]  Süleyman Gül,et al.  Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of sodium hypochlorite on human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro , 2009, Cytotechnology.

[4]  S. Murugan,et al.  Antimutagenic effect of broccoli flower head by the ames salmonella reverse mutation assay , 2007, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[5]  N. Başaran,et al.  The effects of thyme volatiles on the induction of DNA damage by the heterocyclic amine IQ and mitomycin C. , 2005, Mutation research.

[6]  A. Maslat,et al.  Element analysis and biological studies on ten oriental spices using XRF and Ames test. , 2003, Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements.

[7]  M. Sanchez,et al.  Cytogenetic monitoring in a population occupationally exposed to pesticides in Ecuador. , 2002, Environmental health perspectives.

[8]  W. Vilegas,et al.  Genotoxicity of Brosimum gaudichaudii measured by the Salmonella/microsome assay and chromosomal aberrations in CHO cells. , 2002, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[9]  M D Waters,et al.  IPCS guidelines for the monitoring of genotoxic effects of carcinogens in humans. International Programme on Chemical Safety. , 2000, Mutation research.

[10]  P. Bonsi,et al.  Toxicity of selected plant volatiles in microbial and mammalian short-term assays. , 1999, Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association.

[11]  Leal-Cardoso Jh,et al.  Pharmacological effects of essential oils of plants of the northeast of Brazil. , 1999 .

[12]  D. Gawkrodger,et al.  Contact allergy in patients with oral symptoms: a study of 47 patients. , 1996, American journal of contact dermatitis : official journal of the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

[13]  R. D. Blevins,et al.  Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity testing of six chemicals associated with the pungent properties of specific spices as revealed by the Ames Salmonella/microsomal assay , 1995, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology.

[14]  Curtis D. Klaassen,et al.  Casarett and Doull's Toxicology. The Basic Science of Poisons , 1981 .

[15]  L. Millard.  Contact sensitivity to toothpaste. , 1973, British medical journal.