title: Oxidant effects and toxicity of Croton campestris in Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Croton campestris A.St.-Hil. (Euphorbiaceae) is a species native to Northeast Brazil used by traditional communities for the treatment of a variety of health problems. However, potential toxicological effects of this plant are unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The potential toxicity of the hydroalcoholic extract of C. campestris leaves on Drosophila melanogaster insect model, additionally with phytochemical constitution and cellular mechanisms mediating the action of extract were analysed in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Constituents of the extract were evaluated by HPLC. In vitro antioxidant potential of extract was analysed by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. Flies injected culture medium mixed with extract (0.1-50 mg/mL) for 72 h. After, ROS production was evaluated by DCF-DA oxidation. Phosphorylation of MAPK signalling pathway was investigated by Western blotting method. Activity of antioxidant enzymes was analysed in homogenates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Major components of the extract include quercetin (38.11 ± 0.06 mg/g), caffeic acid (20.06 ± 0.17 mg/g) and kaempferol (15.45 ± 0.05 mg/g). Consumption of the extract impaired locomotor performance and induced fly death of flies (LC50of 26.51 mg/mL). Augmented ROS formation and SOD, CAT and GST activity were observed from 0.1 mg/mL. JNK and p38 kinases phosphorylation was modulated and Paraquat-induced toxicity was augmented by extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show important toxicological effects of C. campestris leading to increased mortality and impaired locomotor performance accompanied by induction of cell stress markers in flies. The study draws attention to the indiscriminate use of plant extracts.
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Química Biológica , Universidade Regional do Cariri , Crato , CE , Brazil.|b Departamento de Química, Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco E B
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.affiliation: c Oxidative Stress and Cell Signaling Research Group, Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia , Universidade Federal do Pampa , Campus São Gabriel , São Gabriel , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Giulianna Echeverria
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Macedo
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Química, Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zemolin
authors.affiliation: c Oxidative Stress and Cell Signaling Research Group, Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia , Universidade Federal do Pampa , Campus São Gabriel , São Gabriel , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Felipe da
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Química, Programa de Pós Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Litiele Cezar da
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.affiliation: d Departamento de Farmácia Industrial, Laboratório de Pesquisa em Fitoquímica , Universidade Federal de Santa Maria , Santa Maria , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Augusti
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Boligon
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Química Biológica , Universidade Regional do Cariri , Crato , CE , Brazil.
authors.forename: Irwin R A
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: de Menezes
authors.affiliation: c Oxidative Stress and Cell Signaling Research Group, Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia , Universidade Federal do Pampa , Campus São Gabriel , São Gabriel , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeferson Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: c Oxidative Stress and Cell Signaling Research Group, Centro Interdisciplinar de Pesquisa em Biotecnologia , Universidade Federal do Pampa , Campus São Gabriel , São Gabriel , RS , Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Posser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D029802:Croton; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D016877:Oxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D016877:Oxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: MAPK; Velame do campo; fruit flies; oxidative stress; polyphenols