Assessment of cytotoxic and clastogenic effects of nimesulide: an NSAID drug in somatic cells of BALB/c mice in vivo.

The in vivo genotoxicity of nimesulide, a sulfononilide nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects, was evaluated by employing a mouse in vivo chromosomal aberration test in bone marrow cells. Oral treatment of animals for 5 consecutive days with 1, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 mg/kg body weight of the drug resulted in a statistically nonsignificant reduction in mitotic index and increase in CAs/cell and percent abnormal metaphase. The results indicated that nimesulide does not induce cytotoxicity and is a weak clastogen in the bone marrow cells of the mouse in vivo. Thus, the drug presents a very weak genotoxic risk.