UV RAYS INDUCED DNA DAMAGE: PROTECTION BY AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF MUNTINGIA CALABURA PLANT ROOT

Mohamed Azmathulla Khan Y, Dinesha Ramadas*, Subhas Chandrappa Mundasada, Santosh Kumar N, Harsha R Kashyap, Chikkanna D.

ABSTRACT

Ultraviolet rays kill cells by damaging their DNA. If the UV rays exposure time is more the more thymine dimers are formed in the DNA and the greater the risk of an incorrect repair or a missed dimer. Herein, UV rays are used to damage the Calf thymus DNA and Muntingia Calabura plant root aqueous extract was used to prevent the DNA damage induced by UV rays and also the non toxic nature of the extract was studies in cytotoxicity studies, where BHA(400μM) and Ascorbic acid (400μM) are used as positive control. The aqueous extract at 15μg concentration was used against UV rays induced DNA fragmentation in agarose gel electrophoresis which provides same protection like other standard antioxidant BHA (400μM) and Ascorbic acid (400μM). The cytotoxicity studies showed that, the extract and BHA and Ascorbic acid provides a protection of 42% and 58% respectively whereas, the extract of Muntingia Calabura root showed 64%. In other words, the Muntingia Calabura plant root aqeuous extract showed a better DNA protectant activity against UV rays induced DNA damage.

Keywords: Muntingia Calabura plant root, DNA damage, Cytoxocity, UV rays.