Effects of Petroselinum Crispum and Coriandrum Sativum on Oral Cadmium-induced Micronucleus Formation in Mice

This paper reports the effects of umbelliferous plants on Cd-induced micronucleus formation in Cd-exposed mice. After ICR mice (7 w) were given free access to a 100 mg/kg Cd solution for 12 days, they were fed with a standard diet and a control diet supplemented with Petroselinum crispum (Pc) or Coriandrum sativum (Cs) for 70 days. Femoral bone marrow smears were prepared every 2 weeks, and micronucleus frequency was determined from the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte count. The micronucleus frequency obtained from the positive control group was approximately 2-fold higher than that in the negative control group (No Cd administration) (P < 0.05). However, micronucleus frequencies in the Cs and Pc groups were decreased by 21 - 60% (P < 0.05) compared to that of the positive control group. These results suggest that consumption of these two plants might inhibit genotoxicity and possibly even reduce the risk of aging and carcinogenesis induced by Cd.