Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of ethanolic extract of Euphorbia hyssopifolia L. on HepG2 cells.
BACKGROUND
Euphorbia hyssopifolia L. is a weed with recognized antimicrobial potential employed in Indian, Asian and Latin-American popular medicine. However, little is known with regard to its toxic potential. The present study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of ethanolic extract of E. hyssopifolia in HepG2 cell culture.


METHODS
Phytochemical screening of ethanolic extract was carried out to determine the presence of active secondary plant metabolites. Six concentrations (0.00001, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0mg/mL) of ethanolic extract were tested by the MTT assay to verify cytotoxicity. Then, genotoxic evaluations (alkaline comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay - CBMN) were carried out in HepG2 cells with extract concentrations of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0mg/mL.


RESULTS
Mono and sesquiterpenes, triterpenes and steroids, and flavonoids were the main classes found in the phytochemical screening. Extract concentrations used in the MTT assay showed no cytotoxic activity. On the other hand, genotoxic activity was verified at 0.1 and 1.0mg/mL in the alkaline comet assay. Additionally, the 1.0mg/mL concentration induced severe cell damage leading to death in the CBMN assay, indicating a cytotoxic effect for this concentration in the latter method.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of E. hyssopifolia extract for medicinal purposes should be avoided, because concentrations above 0.01mg/mL may pose risk to human health due to cytotoxic and/or genotoxic effects.
Federal University of Pernambuco, Centre of Biological Sciences, Genetics Department, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Silvany de Sousa
Sde S
Araújo
São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Institut of Biosciences of Rio Claro, Department of Biology, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
Thaís Cristina Casimiro
TC
Fernandes
São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Institut of Biosciences of Rio Claro, Department of Biology, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
Yaliana Tafurt
YT
Cardona
Federal University of Pernambuco, Centre of Biological Sciences, Genetics Department, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Pedro Marcos de
PM
Almeida
São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Institut of Biosciences of Rio Claro, Department of Biology, 13506-900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
Maria Aparecida
MA
Marin-Morales
Federal University of Pernambuco, Centre of Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Andrea Vidal
AV
Dos Santos
Federal University of Pernambuco, Centre of Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Karina Perrelli
KP
Randau
Federal University of Pernambuco, Centre of Biological Sciences, Genetics Department, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil.
Ana Maria
AM
Benko-Iseppon
Federal University of Pernambuco, Centre of Biological Sciences, Genetics Department, 50670-420 Recife, PE, Brazil. Electronic address: brasileirovidal.ac@gmail.com.
Ana Christina
AC
Brasileiro-Vidal
D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D020552:Comet Assay; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D064210:Secondary Metabolism
D009153:Mutagens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol
Antimicrobial; Botany; Cell death; Comet assay; Cytochalasin B (PubChem CID: 5368686); Cytotoxicity; Dimethyl Sulfoxide (PubChem CID: 679); Ethanol (PubChem CID: 702); Ethanolic extract; Euphorbiaceae; Methyl methanesulfonate (PubChem CID: 4156); Micronucleus; Mutagenesis; Octoxynol (PubChem CID: 5590); Sodium pyruvate (PubChem CID: 23662274); Thiazolyl blue (PubChem CID: 64965); Traditional medicine Africa; Traditional medicine meso- and Southern America