Cilostazol geno-protective effects mitigate carbamazepine-induced genotoxicity in human cultured blood lymphocytes.

Background: Carbamazepine is one of the most widely used antiepileptic drugs. Carbamazepine has been shown to be toxic to cells. Cilostazol, an antiplatelet agent, has known antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects.

Objective: This study aimed to explore whether carbamazepine and cilostazol exert genotoxic and/or cytotoxic effects in human cultured blood lymphocytes and the impact of combining both drugs on such effects.

Methods: Genotoxicity was examined using sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay, while cytotoxicity was evaluated by cell kinetic assays (mitotic and proliferative indices).

Results: Study findings have revealed that carbamazepine markedly increased SCEs (p<0.01), while cilostazol significantly decreased their frequencies (p<0.01). In addition, the frequency of SCEs of the combination of both drugs was similar to that of the control group (p>0.05). Carbamazepine increased the cell proliferative index (p<0.01) while cilostazol decreased it (p<0.01). The proliferative index was normalized to the control level when both drugs were combined.

Conclusion: We suggest that cilostazol has the potential to protect human lymphocytes from carbamazepine-induced toxic effects.