title: Evaluation of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Euphorbia tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae) in cell cultures of human leukocytes.
abstract: Euphorbia tirucalli (L.), commonly known as aveloz, has been indiscriminately used in popular medicine to treat various illnesses. However, some components can have devastating consequences. Injury to a cell's genetic material can cause mutations, cancer, and cell death. Our main goal in this work was to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of E. tirucalli extract on human leukocytes. For this purpose, we performed a phytochemical analysis to evaluate the plant's components. In the second step, we treated cultured human leukocytes with different concentrations of the dry extract of the plant and then evaluated the oxidative and genotoxic profiles of these leukocytes. We found that at 1% and 10% concentrations, the aveloz extract acted as a genotoxic agent that could damage DNA and increase oxidative damage. We conclude that despite its popular use, aveloz can act as a genotoxic agent, especially when it contains phorbol ester. Aveloz's indiscriminate use might actually promote tumors and therefore carry a considerable genetic risk for its users.
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Michel M
authors: MM
authors: Machado
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Luis F S
authors: LF
authors: de Oliveira
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Zuravski
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Raul O
authors: RO
authors: de Souza
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Fischer
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Jonathaline A
authors: JA
authors: Duarte
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Manoelly O
authors: MO
authors: Rocha
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
authors: Camila M
authors: CM
authors: Güez
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Farmácia Industrial, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Aline A
authors: AA
authors: Boligon
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Departamento de Farmácia Industrial, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors: Margareth L
authors: ML
authors: Athayde
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts