Cytogenetic evaluation of hormonal drug fludrocortisone in human lymphocyte chromosomes in vitro

Fludrocortisone is a potent steroidal drug with many therapeutic activities. The cytogenetic effects of this drug were assessed in human lymphocyte culture. The parameters used were sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations (CA). A wide range of concentrations i.e. 25 mu g, 50 mu g and 100 mu g/ml of the drug were used to see the genotoxic effects in the absence as well as in the presence of microsomal activation system (S9 mix) at different exposure durations (i.e., 24,48 and 72hr). The drug did not induce any significant increase in chromosomal aberration frequency at any of the concentrations, nor was it effective at any of the exposure times either in the absence or in the presence of S9 mix. It was concluded that fludrocortisone does not have any genotoxic effect in human lymphocytes at wider ranges of concentrations and it is safe to be used as medicine.