title: Evaluation of the toxicity of Uncaria tomentosa by bioassays in vitro.
abstract: Aqueous extracts of Uncaria tomentosa (Willdenow ex Roemer and Schultes) DC. (Rubiaceae) ('Uña de gato'), were analyzed for the presence of toxic compounds in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) and bacterial cells (Photobacterium phosphoreum). Toxicity was evaluated by four systems: Neutral red assay (NR), total protein content (KB), tetrazolium assay (MTT) and Microtox test. The extracts of U. tomentosa did not show toxicity in vitro at the concentrations tested. Testing in vitro could be a valuable tool for evaluating toxicity of medicinal plants.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Toxicologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santa Maria
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albán
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galán de Mera
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vicente Orellana
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pozuelo
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D009499:Neutral Red / Q000737:chemistry; D010776:Photobacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D009499:Neutral Red