title: The phytoecdysteroid β-ecdysone is genotoxic in Rodent Bone Marrow Micronuclei and Allium cepa L. Assays.
abstract: In South America, the β-ecdysone ecdysteroid has been found in species of the genus Pfaffia Mart. Due to the similar morphology of its roots to the Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (Korean ginseng), some species of this genus has been known as Brazilian ginseng and have been used as tonic and aphrodisiac, as well as for the treatment of diabetes and rheumatism.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Here we report a cytogenotoxic evaluation of β-ecdysone (a natural ecdysteroid found in plants) in Rodent Bone Marrow Micronuclei and Allium cepa Assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three β-ecdysone (pure) concentrations (based in human therapeutic dosage) were used in the Micronucleus Assay. The animals were treated during two consecutive days. Micronucleated cells were counted in 2000 polychromatic erythrocytes per animal. For A. cepa L. Assay, one β-ecdysone concentration was analyzed. The onions bulbs were exposed for 24h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Micronucleus Assay showed genotoxic effects for all treatments, expressed by an increase of micronucleated cells. In A. cepa L. Assay, cell abnormalities associated to the malfunction/non-formation of mitotic spindle (aneugenic effect) and chromosomal bridges (clastogenic effect) were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate a cytogenotoxic activity of β-ecdysone. Therefore, the popular use of Pfaffia and others species containing β-ecdysone should be considered with caution.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Genética e Biotecnologia, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: camila-neves@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Camila Siqueira
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Genética e Biotecnologia, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: bioshaygomes@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shaiany Sabrina Lopes
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: tatiannersantos@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Tatianne Rosa
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: marimacedoa@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana Macedo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: yamaraoliveirasouza@bol.com.br.
authors.forename: Yamara Oliveira
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Molecular, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: raul.garcia@ufjf.edu.br.
authors.forename: Raúl Marcel González
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Laboratório de Cultura de Tecidos, CEP 36570-000, Viçosa, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: wcotoni@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wagner Campos
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Otoni
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica, Laboratório de Fitoquímica, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: lmchedier@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luciana Moreira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chedier
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Genética e Biotecnologia, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: lyderson.viccini@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lyderson Facio
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Viccini
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia, Laboratório de Genética e Biotecnologia, CEP 36036-900 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: joseufjf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Marcello Salabert
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Campos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced; D032461:Chromosomes, Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004441:Ecdysterone / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D019697:Onions / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004441:Ecdysterone
keywords: 20-Hydroxyecdysone (PubChem CID: 5459840); Allium cepa Assay; Brazilian ginseng; Cytogenotoxicity; Methyl Methanesulfonate (PubChem CID: 4156); Pfaffia glomerata; Rodent Bone Marrow Micronucleus Assay; β-ecdysone