title: Evaluation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Hancornia speciosa latex in Allium cepa root model.
abstract: The latex obtained from Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Mangabeira tree) is widely used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases, including diarrhea, ulcer, gastritis, tuberculosis, acne and warts. In this study, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects of H. speciosa latex on the root meristem cells of Allium cepa were examined. Onion bulbs were exposed to different concentrations of latex and then submitted to microscopic analysis using Giemsa stain. Water was used as a negative control and sodium azide as a positive control. The results showed that, under the testing conditions, the mitotic index (MI) of the onion roots submitted to latex treatment did not differ significantly from the negative control, which suggests that the latex is not cytotoxic. Low incidence of chromosome aberrations in the cells treated with H. speciosa latex was also observed, indicating that the latex does not have genotoxic effect either. The MI and the chromosome aberration frequency responded to the latex concentration, requiring more studies to evaluate the dosage effect on genotoxicity. The results indicate that in tested concentrations H. speciosa latex is probably not harmful to human health and may be potentially used in medicine.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Ipameri, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Ipameri, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Ipameri, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Ipameri, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Fotofísica, Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Plantas, Universidade Estadual de Goiás, Ipameri, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D007840:Latex / Q000633:toxicity*; D018519:Meristem / Q000187:drug effects; D008940:Mitotic Index; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D019697:Onions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007840:Latex