EFFECT OF CARROT JUICE (DAUCUS CAROTA ) ON MITOTIC INDEX AND FORMATION OF MICRONUCLEI IN FEMUR BONE MARROW CELLS OF WHITE MICE

The effect of carrot juice at different doses on mitotic index (MI)and micronuclei (Mn) formation was studied in white mice bone marrow cells . The counter effect of juice was also studied against the effects induced by cyclophosphamide (Cp) . Results indicated that carrot juice (0.1 , 0.25 , 0.5 ) ml administered orally had no effect on MI and formation of micronuclei , while Cp (50 mg / Kg body weight ) lowered the MI from 6.34 (The normal level ) to 1.97 after 24 hr , and increased the micronuclei from the normal level (1.48) to 13.06 . Different combinations of juice and mutagen such as using juice before mutagen (Ca/Cp) , or juice after mutagen (Cp/Ca) and using juice with mutagen (Ca+Cp) , had different effects , all of them were able to restore the MI to the natural values especially after 6 days . The level of Mn remained elevated compared to the natural values especially in using Cp/Ca and Ca+Cp treatments .