In vitro genotoxic effects of bezafibrate on human peripheral lymphocytes and determination of the drug permeation amount into the cells by HPLC

The present research was aimed to study of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of cholesterol lowering drug Bezafibrate on human peripheral blood lymphocytes by in vitro tests. In this study we used chromosomal abnormalities (CA) and micronucleus (MN) tests as genotoxicity tests and mitotic index (MI) and nuclear division index (NDI) tests for investigating cytotoxic effects of Bezafibrate. In addition HPLC was used for identification and quantification of the drug permeation amount into the cells. The cells were treated with 100, 175, 250 and 325µg/ml of Bezafibrate for 24 and 48 hours. At the end of the treatment period and after precipitation the cells, supernatant was taken to analyze to determination of Bezafibrate. In spite of significant permeation of Bezafibrate into the human peripheral blood lymphocytes in 24-h and 48-h treatment periods, Bezafibrate did not increase the CA and MN frequency in human peripheral blood lymphocytes, means that Bezafibrate did not have any genotoxic effects on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. In addition, exposing to the Bezafibrate for 24 and 48 hours caused to decrease MI and NDI in the cells in 24-h and 48-h treatment periods. According to this study Bezafibrate has cytotoxic effects on human peripheral lymphocytes.