Author(s): Deepak Birla, Sonali K Bhandirge, Azaruddin Shaikh, Amreen Khan, Anees Ghosi, Prerna Pardeshi, Megha Jadhav and Dr. Kapil Khatri

Abstract: Cancer is not a single disease, but rather a group of diseases characterized by abnormal cell growth. Present study was taken up to evaluate antimutagenic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Momordica charantia (MC) by bone marrow micronucleus assay (MNT) and chromosomal aberration Assay (CAA) in mice. Cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg,) was used as a genotoxic challenge and bone marrow of control and MC treated mice was collected after. In MNT, the bone marrow smears were stained with May-Grunwald’s followed by Giemsa stain. Polychromatic and Normochromatic erythrocytes were counted and P/N ratio was calculated. In CAA, Colchicine (0.250gm /100 ml DDW), i.p, was administered 90 min before sacrifice, bone marrow smears were prepared, stained with Giemsa stain and observed under 100X for different types of chromosomal aberrations. Mitotic index was calculated. The MC has significantly decreased the formation of micronuclei, increased the P/N ratio, inhibited the formation of chromosomal aberrations and increased the mitotic index. The micronucleus study showed that. Momordica charantia has significant antimutagenic activity.