Assessment of the potential genotoxic risk of Phyllantus orbicularis HBK aqueous extract using in vitro and in vivo assays.
Phyllanthus orbicularis HBK is an endemic Cuban plant whose aqueous extract has been proposed as an effective drug for the treatment of viral diseases. In addition, antimutagenic properties of this extract have also been reported. In the present study, the genotoxicity of this plant extract was assessed using different in vitro and in vivo assays. Results from SOS gene induction, gene reversion and conversion, and SMART assays clearly show that P. orbicularis aqueous extract does not induce either primary DNA damage or mutation. Additionally, no statistically significant difference was found in the percentage of chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells treated with the plant extract. On the contrary, micronuclei and abnormal anaphase were induced by this extract in CHO cells. This genotoxic effect was related to a high cytotoxicity. Single spots were detected in the SMART assay. These results point to a possible aneugenic effect of the P. orbicularis aqueous extract at cytotoxic doses which are much higher than those seen by their antiviral and antimutagenic activities.
Sánchez-Lamar
Angel
A
Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Laboratorio de Toxicología Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de la Habana, Vedado, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba. alamar@fbio.uh.cu
Fuentes
Jorge Luís
JL
Fonseca
Gladys
G
Cápiro
Nancy
N
Ferrer
Mirle
M
Alonzo
Alena
A
Baluja
Ligia
L
Cozzi
Renata
R
De Salvia
Rosella
R
Fiore
Mario
M
Llagostera
Montserrat
M
D000705:Anaphase / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009154:Mutation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D029803:Phyllanthus / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D010936:Plant Extracts; D004247:DNA