title: Genotoxic and Antigenotoxic Potential of Momordica charantia Linn (Cucurbitaceae) in the Wing Spot Test of Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Momordica charantia, popularly known as bitter melon, is a plant widely used in ethnobotanical medicine. It has antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, antiviral, and antimalarial activities, among others. The goal of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic and/or antigenotoxic activity of the aqueous extracts obtained from the aerial parts and fruit of this plant by means of the Drosophila melanogaster wing spot test. Third-stage larvae that obtained standard (ST) cross and high bioactivation (HB) cross were treated with aqueous extracts of the aerial parts (IQA) and fruit (IQF) of M. charantia, following two protocols (genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity). The aqueous extracts are not genotoxic in lower concentrations. The frequencies of mutant spots observed in the descendants of the ST and HB crosses treated with doxorubicin (DXR) alone were 8.65 and 9.25, respectively, whereas in those cotreated with IQA and DXR, the frequencies ranged from 15.90 to 29 in the ST cross and from 15.05 to 24.78 in the HB cross. In cotreatment with IQF, the frequencies ranged from 30.10 to 30.65 in the ST cross and from 13.60 to 14.50 in the HB cross, whereas the frequencies obtained with DXR were 32.50 in the ST cross and 26.00 in the HB cross. In conclusion, the IQA has a synergistic effect, enhancing the genotoxicity of DXR in the ST cross and the HB cross, whereas the IQF has antigenotoxic effects in the HB cross.
authors: Laboratory Cytogenetic and Mutagenesis, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul , Mundo Novo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil .
authors: Zaira Rosa
authors: ZR
authors: Guterres
authors: Laboratory Cytogenetic and Mutagenesis, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul , Mundo Novo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil .
authors: Thalita Alves
authors: TA
authors: Zanetti
authors: Laboratory Cytogenetic and Mutagenesis, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul , Mundo Novo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil .
authors: Tiago Felipe
authors: TF
authors: Sennes-Lopes
authors: Laboratory Cytogenetic and Mutagenesis, State University of Mato Grosso do Sul , Mundo Novo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil .
authors: Ana Francisca Gomes
authors: AF
authors: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*; D014921:Wings, Animal
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Drosophila; Phytotherapic; SMART; Synergy