title: Evaluation of the mutagenic potential of yangambin and of the hydroalcoholic extract of Ocotea duckei by the Ames test.
abstract: Ocotea duckei Vattimo is a plant popularly known as "louro-de-cheiro" found in the northeast of Brazil. Traditional medicinal uses of this plant are not known, but recent pharmacological studies with the isolated major constituent yangambin have shown various qualities: platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist, protective effects against cardiovascular collapse and anaphylactic shock, anti-allergic properties, analgesic activity, and depressant effect in the central nervous system. In this work, the Ames test was used to evaluate the mutagenic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of O. duckei leaves and of yangambin. Using TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535 strains of Salmonella typhimurium, positive results were obtained only with the hydroalcoholic extract, with or without metabolic activation. Yangambin was not mutagenic, which is of interest due to its pharmacological properties.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil. lfagnez@ufrnet.br
authors.forename: Regina Célia Pereira
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Sílvia Regina Batistuzzo
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: de Medeiros
authors.forename: Celidarque da Silva
authors.initials: Cda S
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: José Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barbosa-Filho
authors.forename: Lucymara Fassarella
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Agnez-Lima
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005663:Furans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D027444:Ocotea / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D005663:Furans; D017705:Lignans; D010936:Plant Extracts; C082827:epiyangambin