NEEM LEAF EXTRACT PREVENTS METHOTREXATE INDUCED GENOTOXICITY IN THE SOMATIC CELLS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER”

Background &Objective: To explore possible protective effect of neem leaf extract against methotrexate induced genotoxicity in the somatic cells (wing primordial) of Drosophila melanogaster.

Methods: In the first phase of the experiment, neem leaf extract (NLE) at two doses was tested in the somatic cells (wing primordia) of Drosophila melanogaster (3^rd instar trans heterozygous larvae resulting from cross of two bioactive strains) to probe effect on mutagenicity. In the second phase, effect of NLE at two doses (2.5% & 5%) was studied to probe its role in prevention of methotrexate induced genotoxicity. Concurrent negative control was run simultaneously in each experiment, where the larvae were exposed to the solvent (distilled water). The effect was observed and quantified under microscope as the number of spots (Clones) per wing.

Results & interpretation: Only higher concentration of NLE (5%) showed significantly higher spontaneous mutation (2.7%) compared to untreated control group. Methotrexate induced 12.01 spots per wing (positive control). NLE at both doses  (2.5 % & 5%) when administered concurrently with methotrexate, average wing spot were reduced to 7.5 and 8.2 respectively which was significantly less compared to only methotrexate treated group.

Conclusion:  NLE at both doses shows promising beneficial effect in preventing methotrexate induced mutation in Drosophila melanogaster.