The potential genotoxic effect of venlafaxine hydrochloride (venlafaxine), an antidepressant drug-active ingredient, was investigated by using in vitro chromosome aberrations (CAs) and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assays in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Mitotic index (MI) and cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) were also calculated to determine the cytotoxicity of this active drug. For this aim, the human PBLs were treated with 25, 50, and 100 µg/ml venlafaxine for 24 h and 48 h. The results of this study showed that venlafaxine significantly induced the formation of structural CA and MN for all concentrations (25, 50, and 100 µg/ml) and treatment periods (24 h and 48 h) when compared with the negative and the solvent control (except 25 µg/ml at 48 h for MN). In addition, the increases in the percentage of structural CA and MN were concentration-dependent for both treatment times. With regard to cell cycle kinetics, venlafaxine significantly decreased the MI at all concentrations, and also CBPI at the higher concentrations for both treatment times as compared to the control groups. The present results indicate for the first time that venlafaxine had significant clastogenic and cytotoxic effects at the tested concentrations (25, 50, and 100 µg/ml) in the human PBLs, in vitro; therefore, its excessive and careless use may pose a potential risk to human health.
Keywords: Venlafaxine hydrochloride; chromosome aberration; cytogenotoxicity; human peripheral blood lymphocytes; micronucleus.