Investigation of the antimutagenic effects of selected South African medicinal plant extracts.
Dichloromethane extracts from different parts of Rhamnus prinoides, Ornithogalum longibracteatum, Gardenia volkensii, Spirostachys africana, Diospyros whyteana, Syzigium cordatum and Prunus africana were investigated for mutagenic and antimutagenic effects in Salmonella/microsome and micronucleus tests. None of the extracts tested in the Ames test were found to induce mutations or to modify the effect of the mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-oxide (4NQO). In the micronucleus test, extracts from twigs/bark of R. prinoides, twigs of D. whyteana, P. africana and S. cordatum significantly lowered the effect of the mutagen mitomycin C (MMC). Extracts from twigs/bark of G. volkensii and S. africana were genotoxic in the micronucleus test, while extracts of O. longibracteatum leaves potentiated the genotoxicity of MMC. This preliminary investigation shows that plant extracts used in traditional medicine may have particular effects with regard to mutagenicity and antimutagenicity indicating careful use in some instances and the need to isolate their active principles for further research.
Verschaeve
L
L
Flemish Institute of Technological Research (Vito), Expertise Centre of Environmental Toxicology, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. luc.verschaeve@vito.be
Kestens
V
V
Taylor
J L S
JL
Elgorashi
E E
EE
Maes
A
A
Van Puyvelde
L
L
De Kimpe
N
N
Van Staden
J
J
D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029788:Diospyros / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D032062:Gardenia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D031442:Ornithogalum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry; D012210:Rhamnose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013019:South Africa; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016685:Mitomycin; D015112:4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D012210:Rhamnose