Antimutagenic Effect of Plukenetia volubilis (Sacha inchi) Oil in BALB/c Mice

Aims: Oils with high levels of omega-3 are being commercialized as the natural supplement to avoid serious consequences related to metabolic syndrome. Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil is a natural product used as a nutraceutical in Peru. Otherwise, genotoxicity is the main test for assessing the toxicity of drugs, food and other substances. Sacha inchi is known as an oil with high content of omega-3 and others polyunsaturated fatty acids. The objective of this study was to determine the antimutagenic effect of Plukenetia volubilis (Sacha inchi) oil in BALB/c mice.

Study Design: Sacha inchi oil was obtained using standardized methods in order to determine its antimutagenic effect in BALB/c mice by using micronucleus test, according to the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines.

Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of Experimental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru, from January to February 2017.

Methodology: A total of 100 Balb/C albino mice (20 - 30 g) of male sex were randomly divided into five groups (n = 20). The groups were normal saline group (NS), cyclophosphamide group (CP; 40 mg/kg i.p.) and the three other groups received cyclophosphamide and Sacha inchi oil of concentrations 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg respectively. The substances were administered three times during 24 hours. The genotoxicity in mice was evaluated determining micronucleus levels in blood and bone marrow.

Results: CP group showed higher micronucleus levels in blood and bone marrow compared with Sacha inchi oil 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg groups (ANOVA Test P < 0.001 Scheffe’s Post Hoc P < 0.001).

Conclusion: In our findings, Sacha inchi oil was not mutagenic under experimental conditions.