Modulation of chromium trioxide induced genotoxicity by methanol extract of leaves of Trigonella foenum-graecum L

Objective: Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek or methi) is an aromatic annual herb used commonly in Indian cuisines as cure of numerous diseases such as dropsy, chronic cough, enlargement of liver and spleen. Seeds are diuretic and aphrodisiac. The present study deals with investigation of the antigenotoxic potential of methanol extract of fenugreek leaf (MTG) on Allium cepa root tip meristem cells which were treated with chromium trioxide (CrO3). Methods: For this purpose, we gave three modes of treatments. In pre-treatment, roots were first treated with different concentrations of MTG extracts (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%) for 2 h followed by CrO3 treatment (8 ppm, 2 h). In post-treatment, roots were first treated with CrO3 (8 ppm, 2 h) followed by different concentrations (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%) of MTG extract for 2 h. In simultaneous treatment, the root tips are treated with CrO3 (8 ppm) and MTG extract (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%) at the same time. The treatments of roots with 8 ppm CrO3 and distilled water served as positive and negative control, respectively. Results: MTG extract of T.foenum-graecum modulated physiological and clastogenic aberrations induced by CrO3 by 87.83% in pre-treatment group, 89.57% in post-treatment group and 93.91% in simultaneous-treatment group at the concentration of 1%. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that T. foenum-graecum possess phytochemicals which have potential to modulate chromium genotoxicity, but need further investigations. [J Exp Integr Med 2012; 2(1.000): 77-83]