title: Genotoxic action of an aqueous extract of Heliotropium curassavicum var. argentinum.
abstract: Heliotropium curassavicum var. argentinum is widely employed in gout, rheumatism, neuralgias, arteriosclerotic disorders, muscular algias, phlebitis, varix and other illnesses. In order to analyze the genotoxic effect produced in vitro by this medicinal plant, chromosomal aberrations (CA), mitotic index (MI) and anaphase delay (AD) were studied in the CHO cell line, with and without the addition of S9 mix. Prepared according to the Argentine pharmacopeia 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 micrograms/ml plant decoction (aqueous extract) were assayed. One hundred cells per culture were studied for CA and AD, while MI was calculated for 2000 nuclei. The results revealed a significant increase in the percentage of abnormal metaphases (p less than 0.001) and in total aberrations (p less than 0.001). Both the MI and the AD affected the cell cycle. All results were enhanced by the addition of an S9 fraction. The toxic effect could be associated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides, which through a process of in vitro metabolism become activated by microsomal oxidation and change into pyrrolic derivatives.
authors.affiliation: División Fisicoquímica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carballo
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mudry
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Larripa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villamil
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Aquino
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000705:Anaphase / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D016466:CHO Cells; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D002873:Chromosome Fragility; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D008110:Liver Extracts; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012674:Senecio; D014632:Valerian
chemical_list: D008110:Liver Extracts; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011763:Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids