title: In vitro and in vivo assessment of the genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of the Filipendula hexapetala and Filipendula ulmaria methanol extracts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The two species of Filipendula genus, Filipendula hexapetala Gilib. and Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim are a traditional herbal medicine widely used to treat haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, fever, rheumatism and arthritic pain, kidney problems, to stop bleeding, and the common cold, as well as food supplements. However, no scientific study has been performed to validate genotoxic and/or antigenotoxic potentials of these two Filipendula species.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to examine the genotoxic and possible in vitro and in vivo DNA protection potential of methanol extracts of F. hexapetala and F. ulmaria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The genotoxicity of different concentrations of F. hexapetala and F. ulmaria methanol extracts from roots and aerial parts (20, 40 and 80 mg/ml), mixed with standard food for Drosophila, was evaluated in vivo in the anterior midgut of Drosophila melanogaster using a modified alkaline comet assay. The protective effects of the highest dose of extracts were observed in somatic cells of third-instar larvae against ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS)-induced genotoxicity. Also, DNA protection activity of methanol extracts from F. hexapetala and F. ulmaria (100, 200, and 400 μg/ml) against hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage was determined under in vitro conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that methanol extracts from the root and aerial part of F. hexapetala at a concentration of 20mg/ml indicated the absence of genotoxicity. Also, there were no statistically significant differences in total scores between any of the groups treated with F. ulmaria root extract and the negative control group, while F. ulmaria aerial part extract possess weak genotoxic effects depending on the concentrations. The percentage reduction in DNA damage was more evident in the group of larvae simultaneously treated with EMS and the highest dose of F. hexapetala root or aerial part extracts and F. ulmaria root extract (91.02, 80.21, and 87.5%, respectively) and less expressive in the group simultaneously treated with F. ulmaria aerial part extract (54.7%). F. hexapetala root and aerial part extracts and F. ulmaria root extract possess strong capabilities to protect DNA from being damaged by hydroxyl radicals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that F. hexapetala root and aerial part extracts and F. ulmaria root extract demonstrated the absence of genotoxic activity. The extracts appeared to have antigenotoxic effect, reducing the levels of DNA damage induced by EMS by more than 80%. Also, F. hexapetala root and aerial part extracts and F. ulmaria root extracts could effectively protect against hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage.
authors: Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia. Electronic address: sanjamatic@kg.ac.rs.
authors: Sanja
authors: S
authors: Matić
authors: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Jelena
authors: J
authors: Katanić
authors: Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Snežana
authors: S
authors: Stanić
authors: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Milan
authors: M
authors: Mladenović
authors: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Nevena
authors: N
authors: Stanković
authors: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Mihailović
authors: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
authors: Tatjana
authors: T
authors: Boroja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster; D031984:Filipendula; D000432:Methanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000633:toxicity*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Antigenotoxicity; DNA damage; Filipendula hexapetala; Filipendula ulmaria