Genotoxicity and anti-genotoxicity of some traditional medicinal herbs.
Six herbal infusions used worldwide (Matricaria chamomilla, Tilia cordata, Mentha piperita, Mentha pulegium, Uncaria tomentosa and Valeriana officinalis) were assayed for anti-genotoxicity using the Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. All these infusions are traditionally used for various medical purposes, including anti-inflammatory processes. Hydrogen peroxide was used as an oxidative genotoxicant to test the anti-genotoxic potency of the medicinal infusions. None of these infusions showed a significant genotoxicity, quite the reverse they were able to behave as desmutagens, detoxifying the mutagen hydrogen peroxide. The phenolic content of such herbal infusions is argued to be the possible scavenger of reactive oxygen radicals produced by the hydrogen peroxide.
Romero-Jiménez
Magdalena
M
University of Cordoba, Department of Genetics, Campus Universitario Rabanales, Edificio Gregor Mendel, C-5, 14071 Cordoba, Spain.
Campos-Sánchez
Juan
J
Analla
Mohamed
M
Muñoz-Serrano
Andrés
A
Alonso-Moraga
Angeles
A
D000818:Animals; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000633:toxicity*
D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D009153:Mutagens; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide