Usefulness of the SOS Chromotest in the study of medicinal plants as radioprotectors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this work is to investigate the usefulness of a modified protocol of the SOS Chromotest to detect antigenotoxicity activities against gamma-rays of plant extracts with proven antioxidant activity, and to elucidate the antigenotoxic mechanisms involved in radioprotection using this system.


METHODS
The methodology developed was assayed with amifostine, the most studied radioprotector, and with Phyllanthus orbicularis HBK, Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf and Pinus caribaea Morelet extracts, using pre- and post-treatment procedures.


RESULTS
The P. caribaea and C. citratus extracts were antigenotoxic against gamma-rays when the cells were pre-treated with both extracts, suggesting a possible antigenotoxic action through a free radical scavenging mechanisms. Amifostine and the P. orbicularis extract were also antigenotoxic under pre- and post-treatment conditions, indicating that several antimutagenic components of this plant extract may also operate by some intracellular mechanism, unlike its antioxidant activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The results have demonstrated the usefulness of the modified SOS Chromotest assay in the screening of phytochemical radioprotectors as well as in the study of their antimutagenic mechanisms.
Fuentes
Jorge Luis
JL
Centro de Aplicaciones Tecnológicas y Desarrollo Nuclear (CEADEN), Habana. jlfuentes2005@yahoo.es
Alonso
Alena
A
Cuétara
Elizabeth
E
Vernhe
Mariolys
M
Alvarez
Nadine
N
Sánchez-Lamar
Angel
A
Llagostera
Montserrat
M
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013014:SOS Response, Genetics / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents