Genotoxicity of some range plants from the north western coastal zone of Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Four range plants that are distributed in the North Western Coastal Zone (N.W.C.Z.) of Egypt were chosen in accordance with their different degrees of palatability to local livestock. They were Atriplex halimus L. (chenopodiaceae), Salsola tetrandra Forssk. (chenopodiaceae), Retama raetam Forssk. (Leguminaceae) and Limoniastrum monopetalum L. (Plumbaginaceae). This study aimed to evaluate these four range plant species and display their genetic toxicity using sample of male albino rats. Rats were treated with oral daily administration of plant suspensions for 14 and 28 days to study their effect on rats growth (body weight and organs weight), gene expression of treated rats, and finally the presence of mutation in P53 tumor suppressor gene. In general, the results showed reduction effects on the daily body weight gain and organs weights of the treated rats with these plants. However, L. monopetalum had the least effect followed by R. raetam, while A. halimus and S. tetrandra had similar effects. On the level of cytogenetic effects of these 4 plants on the bone marrow of rats, they had the ability to induce structural chromosomal aberrations, especially A. halimus and R. raetam. This would indicate the probabilities of more induced tumors with continuous feeding on such plants. When studying the 4 plants effects on gene expression, the electrophoretic analysis of the liver total proteins showed no effect of any treatment after 14 days, while after 28 days; A. halimus and S. tetrandra affected the presence of high protein bands (disappearance).

Summary in Arabic.

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