CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF GRISEOFULVIN ON HUMAN NORMAL CELLS IN VITRO
The effects of griseofulvin (GF) on morphological changes, cell growth, DNA- and RNA-synthesis, and chromosomal changes were studied using a human normal diploid fibroblast strain (WI-38) and peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors. Morphological changes of WI-38 cells were not very prominent as a result of exposure to a high concentration (20 μg/ml) of GF for 3 days. Cell growth and the DNA-synthesis of WI-38 cells and lymphocytes were inhibited by the 3-day-treatment with 20 μg/ml of the drug, while RNA- synthesis was not inhibited by the same treatment. Chromosomal analysis showed that chromosomal abnormalities of structure as well as of number were induced in the lymphocytes exposed to GF for 3 days in concentrations of more than 0.2 μg/ml (p<0.05). These observations suggest that GF has an effect on cellular DNA and that there is a possibility of the drug being a mutagenic and/or carcinogenic agent in humans.
