Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of the essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. Wistar rats by means of the test of micronucleus

Abstract

In this work the genotoxic potential of oregano essential oil was tested using the micronucleus test in bone marrow of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Groups of 5 male and 5 female rats were treated with the essential oil orally, in acute treatment, in three doses: 2000, 1000 and 500 mg.kg-1 respectively, a negative control using the vehicle of administration, Tween 80, using a positive control cyclophosphamide  and a positive control using the majority compounds found in the oil tested. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the ratio of polychromatic erythrocytes and normochromatic erythrocytes (PCE/NCE) and the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes. The results revealed by the ratio of PCE/NCE, the essential oil of oregano and positive control compounds majority caused a slight toxicity in the bone marrow in Wistar rats. There was a statistically significant increase (Kruskal-Wallis test p > 0.01) frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes in 3 doses of essential oil of oregano, but increased the frequency of the positive control PCEMN with the majority compounds thus inducing genotoxicity in erythrocytes of rats. Based on the results is possible to suggest that through this cytogenetic test the essential oil of oregano used in this experiment, does not have genotoxic activity at the doses used.