Investigation the Cytotoxic Effect of Erythromycin and the Potential Protective Role of Vitamin C in Male White Rats

Abstract

The study aimed to demonstrate the side effects of certain drugs currently used as antibiotics. The research examined the effects of erythromycin at both the cellular and molecular levels, as well as the potential protective role of vitamin C. A total of 25 male white rats Mus musculus were used in the experiment for 14 days. The study was conducted in the laboratory of the College of Science University of Babylon in May 2024 .The animals were divided into five groups, with five rats in each group. The first group was the control group, while the second and third groups received the drug at concentrations of (15, 30) mg/kg, respectively, as treatment groups. The fourth and fifth groups were dosed with the drug at the aforementioned concentrations along with vitamin C at a concentration of (100) mg/kg as protective groups.

The results of the experiment showed structural abnormalities in chromosomes, including deletions in the treated groups (G2, G3), specifically in dicentric chromosomes. Additionally, breaks and ring chromosomes were observed in the treated groups compared to the control group. However, the results of the protective groups (G4, G5) showed a significant reduction in the rates of these abnormalities. The results also indicated a significant decrease in the proportion of non-fragmented DNA, and a significant increase in the mean DNA fragmentation was recorded in groups (G2, G3), while no such observation was made in groups (G4, G5). High DNA fragmentation was found only in group (G3), which received a concentration of (30) mg/kg, but this was not observed in the other experimental groups.