title: Genotoxic and mutagenic properties of Bauhinia platypetala extract, a traditional Brazilian medicinal plant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bauhinia platypetala Burch. is a traditionally used Brazilian medicinal plant, although no evidence in the literature substantiates the safety of its use.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of the ethanolic extract and the ethereal fraction of B. platypetala leaves.
  
  
  METHODS
  The identification of chemical compounds from the B. platypetala ethanolic extract and its ethereal fraction was performed by GC/MS and ESI-MS/MS. The plant's toxicological, cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic properties were determined in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and V79 cell culture by survival assays and comet assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major compound identified in the B. platypetala ethanolic extract is palmitic acid, kaempferitirin and quercitrin, while the B. platypetala ethereal fraction was found to be rich in phytol, gamma-sitosterol and vitamin E. Moreover, the results indicated that the B. platypetala ethanolic extract has an anti-oxidative effect against H(2)O(2) in yeast. In addition, the B. platypetala ethanolic extract did not induce mutagenic effects on the S. cerevisiae N123 strain, but the ethereal fraction of B. platypetala at higher concentrations (250-500 μg/mL) induced cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. A slight cytotoxic effect was observed in mammalian V79 cells; however, both the B. platypetala ethanolic extract and its ethereal fraction were able to induce DNA strand breaks in V79 cells, as detected by the alkaline comet assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The B. platypetala ethanolic extract has antioxidant action and showed absence of mutagenic effects in yeast S. cerevisiae. On the other hand B. platypetala ethereal fraction is mutagenic and does not show antioxidant activity in yeast. In mammalian cells B. platypetala ethanolic extract and it's ethereal fraction induce cyotoxic and genotoxic action.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Program in Genetic and Applied Toxicology, Lutheran University of Brazil, Canoas 92425-900, RS, Brazil. borgissantos@gmail.com
authors.forename: Francisco José Borges Dos
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Dinara Jaqueline
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Valéria Flores
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Péres
authors.forename: Angelo Regis de Moura
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sperotto
authors.forename: Elina Bastos
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Caramão
authors.forename: Ana Amélia de Carvalho Melo
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saffi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036481:Bauhinia; D001938:Brazil; D002460:Cell Line; D020552:Comet Assay; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide