Vitamin C-mediated minimisation of Rogor-induced genotoxicity

The genotoxic effect of Rogor (an organophosphorous pesticide) at concentrations used in agriculture was studied in terms of mitotic index in onion root-tip cells, chromosome abnormalities and meiotic index in mice and lastly, lethal mutation rate in Drosophila. It was observed that the pesticide could (i) cause mitotic as well as meiotic inhibition, (ii) increase the clastogenicity rate and (iii) induce lethal mutations. The modificatory role, if any, of L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was studied after administering the vitamin concurrently with the pesticide. It was observed that the cytogenetic toxicity of Rogor can be appreciably minimised by vitamin C. The possible mode of antigenotoxic action of vitamin C was discussed.