EFFECT OF GRADEN CRESS (Lepidium sativum) ON CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS AND ITS ANTI - EFFECT ON INDUCTION OF CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS IN WHITE MICE BONE MARROW CELLS USING SHORT – TERM TESTS

Effect of garden cress Lepidium sativum (a cruciferous plant) on induction of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells of white mice was studied , in addition to its effect to reverse the chromosomal aberrations induced by drug cyclophosphamide (Cp). The results showed that Cp induced chromosomal aberrations in order of 4.7 folds of the natural state , i.e., Negative control (1.75) , the high level of chromosomal aberrations continued for 6 days and the difference was insignificant compared to the positive control (P<0.01). No chromosomal aberrations was induced by when used at 0.1 , 0.25 , 0.5 ml / animal administrated orally and the aberrations were statistically insignificant compared to the negative control . The results of combined treatments of plant juice and the mutagen (Cp) revealed that the best treatment was using the juice before administrating the mutagen (R/Cp) and the chromosomal aberrations were similar to the natural state .Using the juice with the mutagen (R+Cp) or using the mutagen first then followed by the juice (Cp/R) did not lower the aberrations and the differences were statically significant compared to the negative control. These were reflected on the types of aberrations studied such as chromosomal breaks, chromatid breaks, ring chromosome and dicentric chromosomes.