title: Nuclear and mitochondrial genome instability induced by senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.) aqueous extract in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.
abstract: Cassia angustifolia Vahl. (senna) is commonly used in self-medication and is frequently used to treat intestine constipation. A previous study involving bacteria and plasmid DNA suggested the possible toxicity of the aqueous extract of senna (SAE). The aim of this study was to extend the knowledge concerning SAE genotoxicity mechanisms because of its widespread use and its risks to human health. We investigated the impact of SAE on nuclear DNA and on the stability of mitochondrial DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (wt, ogg1, msh6, and ogg1msh6) strains, monitoring the formation of petite mutants. Our results demonstrated that SAE specifically increased Can(R) mutagenesis only in the msh6 mutant, supporting the view that SAE can induce misincorporation errors in DNA. We observed a significant increase in the frequency of petite colonies in all studied strains. Our data indicate that SAE has genotoxic activity towards both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Radio e Fotobiologia, Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, IBRAG, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Radio e Fotobiologia, Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, IBRAG, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caldeira-de-Araújo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Radiobiologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leitão
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Radiobiologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pádula
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics*; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects*; D042822:Genomic Instability / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D029846:Senna Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water