Abstract

Essential oils of six spice plants namely Piper nigrum, Nigella sativa, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Syzygium aromaticum, Cuminum cyminum and Ptychotis ajowan were evaluated for their protective properties against chemical mutagen (hydrogen peroxide). The experiments were performed on fresh human cheek cells, in vitro, using single cell gel electrophoresis/comet assay technique. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was used in concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 and 900 µM respectively to get decipherable damage in DNA of cheek cells. Conspicuous DNA damage (comparatively larger tail lengths) was observed in human cheek cells on application of H₂O₂ (350 µM). The effectiveness of essential oil against H₂O₂ (350 µM ) was tested by evaluating the inhibitory effect of essential oils against chemical mutagen on human cheek cells . All the six essential oils were found evenly effective in shielding the DNA damage caused by H₂O₂ (350 µM). Furthermore the comet assay technique was found to be sternly potent contrivance to appraise the DNA damage of individual cells. 

Keywords

Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis/Comet Assay, Anti mutagenic Effect, DNA Damage, Cheek Cells, Essential Oils, Hydrogen Peroxide. 

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