Jay R. Anand

Escueltin is a coumarin derivative with wide range of biological activity. In the present study we investigated the protective effects of esculetin against cyclophosphamide induced oxidative stress and DNA damage. Following parameters were evaluated: (a) chromosomal aberration and mitotic index; (b) micronuclei formation and polychromatic erythrocyte frequency, and (c) malondialdehyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels in liver homogenates. CP (50 mg/kg intraperitopeanlly) treatment significantly increased the different types of aberrant cells and micronuclei formation in bone marrow cells of mice. It also increase the lipid peroxidation and decreased glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity in liver. Whereas, pretreatment with esculetin (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg, per orally) alleviated aberrations in chromosome and lessened micronuclei formation. Esculetin pretreatment also shielded the liver of mice against cyclophosphamide induced oxidative stress as the levels of oxidative stress markers where near normal levels. Protective effect of esculetin correlated well with its genoprotective activity. It can be concluded that esculetin offsets cyclophosphamide induced oxidative stress and resulting DNA damage and can be useful as a chemopreventive agent against cyclophosphamide induced toxicity.