title: In vitro assessment of anticytotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of CANOVA(®).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CANOVA(®) (CA) is a homeopathic immunomodulator. It contains several homeopathic medicines prepares according to the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. CA is indicated in clinical conditions in which the immune system is impaired and against tumors. N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU) is an N-nitroso compound, with genotoxic/mutagenic properties. Although several studies have shown promising results in the use of CA, there are no studies reporting possible antigenotoxic effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated the in vitro antigenotoxic and anticytotoxic effects of CA in human lymphocytes exposed to NMU. Samples of human lymphocytes that were subjected to different concentrations of a mixture containing CA and NMU were used. The genotoxicity/antigenotoxicity of CA was evaluated by the comet assay, anticytotoxicity was assessed by quantification of apoptosis and necrosis using acridine orange/ethidium bromide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CA significantly reduced DNA damage induced by NMU and reduced significantly the frequency of NMU-induced apoptosis after 24 h of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CA has an important cytoprotective effect significantly reducing the DNA damage and apoptosis induced by the carcinogen NMU.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Henrique Fonseca Sousa
authors.initials: HFS
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Plínio Cerqueira Dos Santos
authors.initials: PCDS
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helem Ferreira
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiane Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lorena Monteiro
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Salim
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khayat
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana Costa
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Universidade da Amazônia (UNAMA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marucia Irena Medeiros
authors.initials: MIM
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rommel Rodriguéz
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Burbano
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Citogenética Humana, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, Pará, Brazil. Electronic address: mbahia@ufpa.br.
authors.forename: Marcelo de Oliveira
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Bahia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000009:adverse effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C513575:Canova medication; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008770:Methylnitrosourea
keywords: Anticytotoxicity; Antigenotoxicity; CANOVA; Cytoprotection; NMU