Investigation of antigenotoxic activity of endemic iris taochia plant extracts against the genotoxic effects of some alkylating agents

The aim of this study was to determine the antigenotoxic effects against the genotoxic effect that is induced by two different alkylating agents (Cyclophosphamide = SF and Ethyl methanesulfonate = EMS) of the Iris taochia Woronow ex Grossh, an endemic of Turkey found in Erzurum region, by using five different concentration levels of overground methanol extracts of it (10; 5; 2,5; 1,25; and 0,625 mg/mL). For this purpose; SMART (Somatic mutation and recombination test), also known as wing spot test, was applied to Drosophila melanogaster. In this test technique, two different mutant strains carrying the recessive flare (flr3) and the multidirectional determinant genes (mwh) in D. melanogaster genome were used. The 72 ± 4 hour-trans-heterozygous larvae that are obtained as a result of the crossings made between these two mutant strains were chronically fed with the I. taochia methanol extract and alkylating agents. Preparations obtained from the wings of adults growing from larvae in all application groups were scanned based on the different types of spots under a light microscope. In light of all trials, it was observed that plant extract prepared with methanol showed no genotoxic effect at any concentration level whereas it is also observed that it significantly decreased the rates of somatic mutation and recombination, especially at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/mL when it is applied with alkylating agents. Especially in the two highest concentrated groups of EMS + I. taochia extract application group (5 and 2,5 mg/mL), inhibition percentage was observed to be increased up to 63,46% in normal-winged subjects and up to 62,95% in serrate-winged subjects. Obtained results are observed to be statistically significant with p<0,05. Further advanced studies should be performed to reveal the active substances in the plant's extracts and antigenotoxic action mechanisms of these substances.