Genotoxic and antigenotoxic properties of Baccharis trimera in mice.
BACKGROUND
Baccharis trimera (Less.) (Asteraceae) is a native plant from Brazil. Also known as "carqueja", it is popularly used to treat liver diseases, diabetes, as well as digestive disorders, mainly by women with lower socioeconomic status.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo genotoxic/antigenotoxic and mutagenic potential of this plant, using the comet and the micronucleus assays.


METHODS
Female adult mice were treated with 500, 1000 or 2000 mg/kg of B. trimera aqueous extract (Bt-AE) by gavage for three consecutive days.


RESULTS
Independently of the dose, no genotoxic effect was observed in blood and liver samples analyzed by the comet assay. Conversely, B. trimera showed an antigenotoxic effect in blood from treated mice, thus protecting cells against oxidative DNA damage induced by the ex vivo treatment with hydrogen peroxide. In addition, Bt-AE showed in vitro antioxidant activity, assessed by DPPH and xanthine oxidase assays, suggesting that the observed antigenotoxic effects might be related to its antioxidant properties.


CONCLUSIONS
However, the extract increased the frequency of micronucleus in bone marrow of treated mice, indicating a chromosomal mutagenic activity. Thus, medicines prepared from this plant should be used with caution, although the results also suggest antigenotoxic effects for B. trimera aqueous extract.
Rodrigues
Carmem R F
CR
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Toxicologia Aplicada, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha 8001, Prédio 22, 4 degrees andar, CEP 92450-900 Bairro São José, Canoas, RS, Brazil.
Dias
Jacqueline H
JH
de Mello
Rodrigo N
RN
Richter
Marc F
MF
Picada
Jaqueline N
JN
Ferraz
Alexandre B F
AB
D000818:Animals; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031175:Baccharis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D009153:Mutagens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase