METHODS: MTT assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of both compounds toward the cells after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure or treatment. The alkaline comet assay was conducted to determine the DNA damage on K562 cells after been exposed to both compounds for 30, 60 and 90 minutes.
RESULTS: The IC50 values obtained from K562 cells ranged from 0.01 to 0.30 μM, whereas for both Chang liver cell and lung fibroblast V79 cell, the values ranged from 0.10 to 0.40 μM. For genotoxicity evaluation, the percentage of damaged DNA is measured as an average of tail moment, and was found to be within 1.20 to 2.20 A.U while the percentage of DNA intensity ranging from 1.50 to 3.50% indicating no genotoxic effects.
CONCLUSION: Both compounds are cytotoxic toward leukemia cells and non-cancerous cells but do not exert their genotoxic effects towards leukemia cell.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of the smoke condensate using cyclooxygenase -1 (COX-1) and -2 (COX-2) as well as its potential genotoxic effects using the bacterial-based Ames test and the mammalian cells-based micronucleus/cytome and comet assays.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The smoke was prepared in a similar way to that commonly used traditionally by Sudanese women then condensed using a funnel. Cyclooxygenase assay was used to evaluate its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The neutral red uptake assay was conducted to determine the range of concentrations in the mammalian cells-based assays. The Ames, cytome and comet assays were used to assess its potential adverse (long-term) effects.
RESULTS: The smoke condensate did not inhibit the cyclooxygenases at the highest concentration tested. All smoke condensate concentrations tested in the Salmonella/microsome assay induced mutation in both TA98 and TA100 in a dose dependent manner. A significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds was observed in the cytome assay as well as in the % DNA damage in the comet assay.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated a dose dependent genotoxic potential of the smoke condensate in the bacterial and human C3A cells and may pose a health risk to women since the smoke bath is frequently practised. The study highlighted the need for further rigorous assessment of the risks associated with the smoke bath practice.