Maitreyi Zaveri

  Any agent, which increases DNA damage or cell proliferation, can cause increased rate of mutation also increase the probability of cancer. A mutagen is considered an agent capable of destroying the integrity of hereditary mechanism of the cell or organism. Majority of known cancer causing agents are mutagens. The rate of tumor evolution and progression is accelerated by mutagenic agents. Mutation is now a day’s increase in human being. Here screening of in vitro anti-mutagenic activity of selected plants Spheranthus indicus, Asteracantha longifolia, Jateorhiza palmata, Mucuna Pruriens, Tecomella undulate, Picrorhiza kurroa, Grewia tiliifolia, Myristica fragrans, Oroxylum indicum, Gymnosporia montana were investigated. The activity was assayed by Ames Salmonella mutagenicity test using histidine mutants of Salmonella typhimurium tester strains, MTCC 98, MTCC 1251 and MTCC 1252. The hydroalcoholic extract of the plants significantly inhibited (P < 0.001) the in vitro by direct mutagens sodium azide (NaN3), 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD), and indirect mutagens benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) 2-aminoflourene(2-AF) induced his  revertants in adose dependent manner. The results indicated that the hydroalcoholic extract of Spheranthus indicus occurring in India possessed significant antimutagenic activity.  

  Gymnosporia montana belonging to the family Celastraceae commonly known as Vikalo.  It is a shrub or tree growing wild in dry areas and is commonly found in Gujarat. It is widely used in treating sore, ulcer, gastro-intestinal disorders, toothache, and dysentery. The dried powder of leaf of Gymnosporia montana was subjected to the phytochemical screening for the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, and carbohydrates, etc. Effectiveness of methanolic extracts of leaf of Gymnosporia montana was evaluated (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg; p.o.) against carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, and cotton pellet-induced chronic inflammation. Further, methanolic fraction of the plant was also evaluated (200 mg/kg; p.o.) in tail flick model using rats as well as acetic acid-induced writhing response using mice. Pretreatment with methanolic fraction showed significant (p