Abstract
Ethanolic extract of Emblica officinalis (EO) fruit extract was evaluated for protection against genotoxicity induced by the rodent carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Oral administration of EO fruit extract in various concentrations (100, 250, 500mg/kg b.wt) for seven consecutive days prior to a single intraperitoneal injection of DMBA decreased the frequency of bone marrow micronuclei induced in Swiss albino mice. Significant increases in the liver antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and detoxifying enzyme glutathione-S-transferase (GST), were found in the fruit extract treated group. The extract also reduced the hepatic levels of the activating enzymes cytochrome (CYt) P450 and Cyt b5. These increased in the carcinogen treated group, which emphasizes its protective effect against the carcinogen. There was a dose-dependent effect of the extract against the genotoxin with the maximum effect at 500 mg/kg b.wt. The protection afforded by EO may be associated with its antioxidant capacity and through its modulatory effect on hepatic activation and detoxifying enzymes.