Genotoxic and anti-genotoxic effects of esculin and its oligomer fractions against mitomycin C-induced DNA damages in mice

•Esculin and its oligomer fractions did not induce a genotoxic effect.•Esculin and its oligomer fractions reduced in vivo the genotoxicity of mitomycin C.•Esculin and its oligomer fractions did not increase the MDA levels.

Mitomycin C is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs against various solid tumors. However, despite its wide spectrum of clinical benefits, this agent is capable of inducing various types of genotoxicity. In this study, we investigated the effect of esculin and its oligomer fractions (E1, E2 and E3) against mitomycin C induced genotoxicity in liver and kidney cells isolated from Balb/C mice using the comet assay. Esculin and its oligomer fractions were not genotoxic at the tested doses (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg b.w). A significant decrease in DNA damages was observed, suggesting a protective role of esculin and its oligomer fractions against the genotoxicity induced by mitomycin C on liver and kidney cells. Moreover, esculin and its oligomer fractions did not induce an increase of malondialdehyde levels.