Objective: Environmental pollutants are responsible for inducing a number of biochemical and physical changes in the various organs of an organism. The most potent pollutants is7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) (a genotoxic carcinogen), a polyaromatic hydrocarbon. It is known to induce a number of genetic changes including the formation of DNA adducts. These genotypic changes in turn are responsible for inducing microstructural changes in the vital organs viz. kidneys, stomach and lungs of an organism. These changes in turn cause biochemical alterations in an animal and hence alter the normal functioning. Synthetic drugs provide a sigh of relief but a large number of side effects in addition to the growing resistance has made it necessary to find an efficient alternative. Plant secondary metabolites, especially glucosinolate hydrolytic products, are known for their high bioprotective activity. The current study was therefore designed to analyze the bioprotective role of erucin against DMBA-induced microstructural changes in kidneys, lungs and stomach of male Wistar rats using histological analysis.

Material and Method: The bioprotective efficacy of erucin was evaluated in male Wistar rats against DMBA induced microstructural changes. The rats were divided into five groups where group I was untreated control, group II was DMBA treated and group III-V were treatment (DMBA + erucin) groups.

Results: Erucin was able to protect the rats against DMBA-induced histopathological changes in the lungs and stomach. No changes were observed in the kidney following treatment with DMBA or erucin.

Conclusion: Erucin has bioprotective activity against genotoxic carcinogen.