Fruits and vegetables contain a variety of ingredients that exhibit chemopreventive effects against an array of
xenobiotics. In the present study, the antigenotoxic potential of
lupeol, a
triterpene, and mango pulp extract (MPE) was evaluated in Swiss albino mice.
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a well-known
mutagen, was given at a single dose of 100 mg/kg
body weight intraperitoneally. Pretreatment with
lupeol (1 mg/animal) and MPE (1 mL, 20%) was given through oral intubation for 7 days prior to B[a]P administration. Animals from all the groups were killed at sampling time of 24 h and their bone marrow tissue was analyzed for chromosomal damage and micronuclei induction. In B[a]P-treated animals a significant induction of
chromosomal aberration and micronuclei was recorded, with a decrease in mitotic index. In
lupeol- or MPE-supplemented groups, a significant decrease in B[a]P-induced clastogenicity was recorded. The incidence of aberrant cells and micronuclei was found to be reduced by both
lupeol and MPE when compared to the B[a]P-treated group. The anti-cytotoxic effects of
lupeol or MPE were also evident, as observed by significant increase in mitotic index. Thus, results of the present investigation revealed that
lupeol and MPE have protective effects against B[a]P-induced clastogenic changes in Swiss albino mice.