Protective effect of hawthorn extract against genotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in mouse bone marrow cells

The preventive effect of hawthorn (Crataegus microphylla) fruit extract was investigated in mouse bone marrow cells against genotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide. Mice were orally (gavages) pretreated with solutions of hawthorn extract which was prepared at five different doses (25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) for seven consecutive days. Mice were injected intraperitoneally on the seventh day with cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg b.w.) and killed after 24 h for the evaluation of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) and the ratio of PCE/(PCE + NCE) (polychromatic erythrocyte/polychromatic erythrocyte + normochromatic erythrocyte). All of five doses of extract significantly reduced MnPCEs induced by cyclophosphamide (P < 0.0001). Hawthorn extract at dose 100 mg/kg b.w. reduced MnPCEs 2.5 time and also completely normalized PCE/(PCE + NCE) ratio. Hawthorn extract exhibited concentration-dependent antioxidant activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical. Hawthorn contains high amounts of phenolic compounds; the HPLC analysis showed that it contained chlorogenic acid, epicatechin and hyperoside. It is obvious that hawthorn, particularly flavonoids constituents with antioxidative activity, reduced the oxidative stress and genotoxicity induced by cyclophosphamide in mouse bone marrow cells.