Evaluation of the protective role of hydroalcoholic extract of ginger and nacetylcysteine on genetic disorder caused by sodium azide on human blood lymphocytes by micronucleus method

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate, the protective effects of ginger extract and acetylcysteine were
investigated on genotoxicity caused by sodium azide in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Sodium azide is known as a powerful genetic
mutagen in various organisms including bacteria, plants, and animals, and is considered a genotoxic agent that widely affects many
organisms.
Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, the hydroalcoholic extract of ginger (0.1, 0.5, and 1 μM) and acetylcysteine (50,
100, and 500 μM) were tested for their protective effects on genotoxicity caused by sodium azide in lymphocytes. The micronucleus
method was used to analyze human blood samples. Data collected from the experiment were analyzed using Graph Pad Prism v8
statistical software, with P<0.05 considered as a significant level.
Results: The results showed that sodium azide induces genotoxicity in human blood lymphocytes, causing the formation of
micronuclei. Treatment of lymphocytes with different concentrations of acetylcysteine and ginger reduced the production of
micronuclei in a dose-dependent manner, leading to a reduction in genotoxicity (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The study concluded that N-acetyl-cysteine, at concentrations of 100 and 500 μM, and ginger, at all doses, led to a dosedependent
reduction in genotoxicity. This suggests that N-acetyl-cysteine and compounds found in the ginger extract have high
antioxidant power, enabling them to reduce the genetic toxicity caused by sodium azide.