Ruta chalepensis is a native herb of the Mediterranean region used in the traditional medicine of many countries. Phytochemical screening has shown the presence of bioactive molecules that are responsible for its pharmacological properties. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of R. chalepensis methanolic extract on metaphase index and micronucleus formation in bone marrow of Swiss albino BALB/c male mice as well as in vitro cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 tumor cell line. The results of cytogenetic evaluations indicated that a treatment with R. chalepensis was associated with a significant increase in metaphase index and reduction in micronucleus formation in dose-dependent pattern comparing with blank control and vehicle control. The results of methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay on MCF-7 tumor cells indicated a significant increase in cell proliferation inhibition in dose-dependent manner after treatment with R. chalepensis methanolic extract with potent IC₅₀ of 51.31 µg mL^-1, comparing with WRI68 normal cell line.

• Akkari H, Ezzine O, Dhahri S, B’chir F, Rekik M, Hajaji S, Darghouth M A, Jamâa M L BandGharbi M (2015). Chemical composition, insecticidal and in vitro anthelmintic activities of Ruta chalepensis (Rutaceae) essential oil. Industrial Crops and Products, 74, 745-751.
• Al-Ezzy R, Anee R and Kathum O (2017). International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences Hepatoprotective Effects of Achillea millefolium methanolic extract on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity on albino male mice. International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences, 4, 98-109.
• Al-Ezzy R, Anee RandIbrahim N (2018). Assessments of Immunological Activity of Achillea Millefolium Methanolic Extract on Albino Male Mice. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 6.
• Allen J W, Shuler C F, Mendes R WandLatt S A (1977). A simplified technique for in vivo analysis of sister-chromatid exchanges using 5-bromodeoxyuridine tablets. Cytogenet Cell Genet, 18, 231-7.
• Alotaibi S M, Saleem M SandAl-Humaidi J G (2018). Phytochemical contents and biological evaluation of Ruta chalepennsis L. growing in Saudi Arabia. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society, 26, 504-508.
• Al-Said M S, Tariq M, Al-Yahya M A, Rafatullah S, Ginnawi O TandAgeel A M (1990). Studies on Ruta chalepensis, an ancient medicinal herb still used in traditional medicine. J Ethnopharmacol, 28, 305-12.
• Ashour M, Habib D F, Hanna R A and El-Dabaa M T (2011). Beneficial effects of curcumin and ruta chalepensis on the antioxidant system and inflammation in hypercholesteromic rats. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 5, 2562-2567
• Brower V (2008). Back to Nature: Extinction of Medicinal Plants Threatens Drug Discovery. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 100, 838-9.
• Carocho M and Ferreira I C (2013). The role of phenolic compounds in the fight against cancer--a review. Anticancer Agents Med Chem, 13, 1236-58.
• Dahija S, Čakar J, Vidic D, Maksimović MandParić A (2014). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., Alnus incana (L.) Moench and Alnus viridis (Chaix) DC. extracts. Natural Product Research, 28, 2317-2320.
• Eickhorst K and Csaposs J (2007). Rue the Herb: Ruta graveolens-Associated Phytophototoxicity. Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug : official journal of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, North American Contact Dermatitis Group, 18, 52-5.
• El Sayed K, Al-Said M S, El-Feraly F S and Ross S A (2000). New quinoline alkaloids from Ruta chalepensis. J Nat Prod, 63, 995-7.
• França Orlanda, J F and Nascimento A R (2015). Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of Ruta graveolens L. (Rutaceae) volatile oils, from São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. South African Journal of Botany, 99, 103-106.
• Fu W, Chen J, Cai Y, Lei Y, Chen L, Pei L, Zhou D, Liang X and Ruan J (2010). Antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective potential of the extract from Parathelypteris nipponica (Franch. et Sav.) Ching. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 130, 521-528.
• Haddouchi F, Chaouche T M, Zaouali Y, Riadh K, Attou A and Benmansour A (2013). Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from four Ruta species growing in Algeria. Food chemistry, 141, 253-8.
• Ibraheem R M, Mhawesh, A A and Abood, K W (2018). Estimation Of The Whole Flavonoid, Antioxidant, Anti-Bacterial Challenge Concerning Viola Odorata(Banafsha) Methanolic Extract. Iraqi Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 49, 655-662.
• Kacem M, Kacem I, Simon G, Ben Mansour A, Chaabouni S, Elfeki A and Bouaziz M (2015). Phytochemicals and biological activities of Ruta chalepensis L. growing in Tunisia. Food Bioscience, 12, 73-83.
• Li J WandVederas, J C (2009). Drug discovery and natural products: end of an era or an endless frontier? Science, 325, 161-5.
• Ohnishi S and Takeda H (2015). Herbal medicines for the treatment of cancer chemotherapy-induced side effects. 6.
• Oliva A, Meepagala K M, Wedge D E, Harries D, Hale A L, Aliotta GandDuke S O (2003). Natural fungicides from Ruta graveolens L. leaves, including a new quinolone alkaloid. J Agric Food Chem, 51, 890-6.
• Pollio A, De Natale A, Appetiti E, Aliotta GandTouwaide A (2008). Continuity and change in the Mediterranean medical tradition: Ruta spp. (rutaceae) in Hippocratic medicine and present practices. J Ethnopharmacol, 116, 469-82.
• Raghav S K, Gupta B, Agrawal C, Goswami K and Das H R (2006). Anti-inflammatory effect of Ruta graveolens L. in murine macrophage cells. J Ethnopharmacol, 104, 234-9.
• Schmid W (1976). The cell micronucleus test for cytogenetic analysis. In: HOLLAENDER, A. (ed.) Chemical Mutagens. Chemical Mutagens (Principles and Methods for Their Detection). Boston, MA.: Springer.
• Shamsee Z R, Al-Saffar A Z, Al-Shanon A F and Al-Obaidi J R (2019). Cytotoxic and cell cycle arrest induction of pentacyclic triterpenoides separated from Lantana camara leaves against MCF-7 cell line in vitro. Molecular Biology Reports, 46, 381-390.
• Wessner D, Hofmann Hand Ring J (1999). Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens applied as protection against evil spells. Contact Dermatitis, 41, 232.

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.