Anti-mutagenic Action of Ruta chalepensis against Rat Sperm Cell Abnormalities-induced by Potassium Bromate

Aims: The aim of current study was to investigate the genotoxic damage of potassium bromate on sperm cell morphology and the potential defense role of Ruta chalepensis (Rue) against the potassium bromate effects.

Study Design: Fifty rats (Strain: Rattus norvegicus) were randomly divided into five groups (10 rats/group) as follows: (Control group) received distilled water daily for 4 weeks, (KBrO3 group) treated with KBrO3 (100 mg/kg/b.w) for 4 weeks, (Rue group) received Rue orally in a daily dose (0.5 g/animal) for 4 weeks, (treatment group) were first provided with oral doses of KBrO3 daily for 2 weeks and then treated orally with KBrO3 in association with Rue for an additional 2 weeks Finally (protective group) was administered with Rue orally for 2 weeks and then administered oral doses of Rue in association with KBrO3 for an additional 2 weeks.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Zoology and Department of Botany, University of Omar Almukhtar, between July 2018 and September 2019.

Methodology: Sperm suspensions, filtered and smears were made according to the standard protocol for sperm morphology assay. The smears were fixed, allow to dry and stained with hematoxylin and then washed under slow running water until the excess stain is removed and were putted in eosin dye.

Results: The results were showed that potassium bromate has the ability to cause mutations in the morphology of sperm cells. The highest mutation rates of head, tail and neck reached 16.60, 5.200 and 3.200 respectively in animals. Several types of sperm abnormalities such as hock free, banana type, amorphous, hummer shape after the administration of potassium bromate comparing with the negative control animals that treated only with potassium bromate. On the other hand, the oil extract of Ruta chalepensis significantly inhibited the mutations by declining the abnormality rates of head, tail and neck to 2.600, 1.600 and 0.400 in protective group. Thus, potassium bromate has to be considered as a conceivable line regarding human health.

Conclusion: Potassium bromate clearly caused a wide range of sperm cell abnormalities and Rue oil extracts have a good anti-mutagenic effects against potassium bromate by decreasing the sperm cell abnormalities.