Evaluation of the toxicity of Uncaria tomentosa by bioassays in vitro.
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.
Santa Maria
A
A
Departamento de Toxicologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Lopez
A
A
Diaz
M M
MM
Albán
J
J
Galán de Mera
A
A
Vicente Orellana
J A
JA
Pozuelo
J M
JM
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
D010936:Plant Extracts; D011506:Proteins; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D009499:Neutral Red