An evaluation of the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the anti-obesity drugs sibutramine and fenproporex

Hum Exp Toxicol. 2010 Mar;29(3):187-97. doi: 10.1177/0960327109358732. Epub 2010 Jan 5.

Abstract

Anti-obesity medications deserve special considerations at the present time due to an increasing number of overweight and obese people who require these therapeutic alternatives. Obesity is positively associated with several chronic illnesses, including cancer. In this work, we evaluated the possible genotoxic and/or cytotoxic actions of two drugs, sibutramine and fenproporex, in the doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg body weight (bw), administered intraperitoneally in male Swiss mice. The genotoxic effect was analyzed by comet assay and micronucleus test. We found that both drugs increased the frequency of genotoxic damage in Swiss mice, but did not present cytotoxic activities towards the polychromatic erythrocytes of the bone marrow of these animals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amphetamines / administration & dosage
  • Amphetamines / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / toxicity*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects*
  • Bone Marrow Cells / pathology
  • Comet Assay
  • Cyclobutanes / administration & dosage
  • Cyclobutanes / toxicity*
  • DNA Damage*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects*
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / chemically induced*
  • Risk Assessment

Substances

  • Amphetamines
  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Cyclobutanes
  • fenproporex
  • sibutramine