title: Assessment of mutagenicity in Parthenium hysterophorus L.
abstract: The mutagenic potential of a crude extract of Parthenium hysterophorus L. was assessed in the Salmonella/microsome (Ames) assay and the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. Results in the bacterial mutagenicity assay were negative for the five strains employed, e.g. TA 1535, TA1537, TA 98, TA 100 and TA 102, while cytotoxicity was evident in all cases at 5000 microg per plate, the highest concentration assayed. A decrease in toxicity was observed with exogenous mammalian metabolic activation (S9) or glutathione (5 micromol per plate). When mutagenicity was monitored after column chromatography fractionation of the crude, fraction 1 was mutagenic in strain TA 98 (+S9). Besides, cytotoxicity was found in fraction 5, where parthenin was eluted. The micronucleus test was negative in mice upon oral administration, at doses up to 96 mg of crude per kg. Bone marrow toxicity was not observed. The crude extract exhibited some in vitro pro-oxidant activity. It also inhibited lipid peroxidation (IC(50)=4.1 microg/ml) but failed to act as .OH scavenger.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo de Medicamentos, Avenido 26 No 1605, Nuevo Vedado, City of Havana CP 10600, Cuba. cinfa@infomed.sld.cu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Victoria
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visozo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piloto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000633:toxicity; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects; D020903:Tanacetum parthenium / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts