Diazepam induced oxidative DNA damage in cultured human lymphocytes

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine compound that is mainly used for anxiety, muscle spasms, seizures and insomnia. Several studies have shown that long-term Diazepam treatment is associated with oxidative stress. In this study, the possible genotoxic effect of Diazepam was examined in cultured human white blood cells using the sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) assays. Treatment of cultured lymphocytes with different concentrations of Diazepam (1, 10 and 100 µg/mL) did not induce chromosomal DNA damage as measured using SCEs and CAs assays (P > 0.05). In addition, no effect was observed on mitotic and proliferative indices (P > 0.05). However, Diazepam induced oxidative DNA damage as measured by the 8-OHdG assay in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.001). In conclusion, Diazepam seems to induce oxidative DNA damage in cultured human lymphocytes. More in vivo studies are required to confirm current finding.