title: In vitro evaluation of the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of artesunate, an antimalarial drug, in human lymphocytes.
abstract: Artesunate is one of the main antimalarial drugs used in several countries. It is a semisynthetic compound derived from artemisinin, a substance extracted from the Chinese plant, Artemisia annua L. Despite the widespread use of artesunate as an antimalarial drug, there is a lack of data regarding its genotoxic effects in human lymphocytes. Therefore, in this study, we used the comet assay and micronucleus test to evaluate the possible genotoxic effects of artesunate in cultured human lymphocytes. In addition, cell death by necrosis and apoptosis was also assessed. Cells exposed to different concentrations of artesunate showed a significant concentration-dependent increase (P < 0.05) in DNA damage index and micronuclei frequency. A significant increase in the frequency of apoptotic and necrotic cells was also observed. Our results showed that artesunate is a genotoxic and cytotoxic compound in cultured human lymphocytes.
authors: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém - Pará - Brazil.
authors: Tatiane C
authors: TC
authors: Mota
authors: Plínio C S
authors: PC
authors: Cardoso
authors: Lorena M
authors: LM
authors: Gomes
authors: Priscilla C M
authors: PC
authors: Vieira
authors: Regianne M S
authors: RM
authors: Corrêa
authors: Priscila Di Paula B
authors: PD
authors: Santana
authors: Moysés S
authors: MS
authors: Miranda
authors: Rommel M R
authors: RM
authors: Burbano
authors: Marcelo O
authors: MO
authors: Bahia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000633:toxicity*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D031172:Artemisia annua / Q000737:chemistry; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000077332:Artesunate; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020552:Comet Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D000077332:Artesunate