Vol.:(0123456789) Discover Applied Sciences (2024) 6:342 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-024-06042-6 Discover Applied Sciences Research Anticlastogenic activity of ethanolic extract of Lagenaria siceraria fruit (ELSF) against cyclophosphamide induced genotoxicity in mice Rajini Kolure 1  · Naveen Reddy Penumallu 2  · Sneha Thakur 3  · Somnath De 1  · Suhasini Boddu 1  · Nachammai Vinaitheerthan 4  · Ramreddy Godela 5  · Manjula Santhepete Nanjundaiah 4 Received: 17 February 2024 / Accepted: 18 June 2024 © The Author(s) 2024 OPEN Abstract To investigate the potential of ethanolic extracts of Lagenaria siceraria fruit (ELSF) in protecting against cyclophosphamide (CP)—induced genotoxicity in Swiss albino mice. The study used a pre-treatment approach with ELSF given orally to the animals at two different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 14 days straight. The CP induction group was given prior treat- ment for 14 days with ELSF (100 and 200 mg/kg) and the positive control group received an i.p (single intraperitoneal) cyclophosphamide dose (40 mg/kg) as the induction agent. The frequency of CP-induced micronuclei and damage to DNA was assessed as hallmark in bone marrow cells isolated form mouse. Study findings revealed that ELSF pre-treatment significantly lowered the frequency of CP-induced micronuclei and DNA damage in mouse bone marrow cells. The sup- pression effect as protectant was observed at both doses of ELSF (100 and 200 mg/kg). The study demonstrated that ELSF has potential chemoprotective properties against CP-induced genotoxicity. The findings suggest that ELSF could be a natural and safe approach to protecting healthy cells from the harmful effects of chemotherapy. Further clinical investigation warrants the ameliorative potential of ELSF in cancer treatment. * Manjula Santhepete Nanjundaiah, snmanjula@jssuni.edu.in | 1 Department of Pharmacology, St. Pauls College of Pharmacy, Turkayamjal, Telangana 501510, India. 2 Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India. 3 Department of Pharmacognosy, St. Pauls College of Pharmacy, Turkayamjal, Telangana 501510, India. 4 Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy (JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research), Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India. 5 Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, GITAM School of Pharmacy, GITAM University (Deemed to be University), Rudraram, Telangana 502329, India.