title: Safety Assessment and Botanical Standardization of an Edible Species from South America.
abstract: Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae), commonly known as nasturtium, is an important edible plant native to the Andean States and widely disseminated throughout South America. Despite the use of this species is quite widespread, there are no minimum quality control standards or data on its genotoxicity. So, the aim of this study was to present a detailed anatomical and histochemical study for Tropaeolum majus and provide genotoxicity parameters of a preparation routinely used in South American countries. First, three different Tropaeolum majus aqueous extracts (TMAEs) at concentrations of 1.5%, 7%, and 15% were prepared according to the popular use. Then, genetic toxicity of TMAE was evaluated on bacterial reverse mutation, genomic lesions, and micronucleus formation in male rats. Furthermore, a detailed anatomical and histochemical study of the leaves and stems of Tropaeolum majus were performed. No revertant colonies were found in any bacterial cultures examined. In the comet assay, TMAE showed no significant DNA damage in all tested doses. Micronucleus assay showed no significant increases in the frequency of inducing micronuclei in any dose examined. Light and electron microscope images of cross-section of leaves and stems from Tropaeolum majus revealed useful diagnostic features. The presented data showed significant safety parameters for the use of TMAE and provided important data for the quality control of this plant species.
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados , Dourados, Brazil .
authors.forename: Giseli Karenina
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Traesel
authors.affiliation: 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences Post Graduate Program, State University of Ponta Grossa , Ponta Grossa, Brazil .
authors.forename: Camila Dias
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados , Dourados, Brazil .
authors.forename: Cleide Adriane Signor
authors.initials: CAS
authors.lastname: Tirloni
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Paranaense University , Umuarama, Brazil .
authors.forename: Jacqueline Vergutz
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Menetrier
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados , Dourados, Brazil .
authors.forename: Francislaine Aparecida
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Dos Reis Lívero
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Paranaense University , Umuarama, Brazil .
authors.forename: Emerson Luiz Botelho
authors.initials: ELB
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados , Dourados, Brazil .
authors.forename: Silvia Aparecida
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Oesterreich
authors.affiliation: 2 Pharmaceutical Sciences Post Graduate Program, State University of Ponta Grossa , Ponta Grossa, Brazil .
authors.forename: Jane Manfron
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Budel
authors.affiliation: 1 Faculty of Health Sciences, Federal University of Grande Dourados , Dourados, Brazil .
authors.forename: Arquimedes Gasparotto
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Junior
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D013020:South America; D032388:Tropaeolum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Tropaeolaceae; agenotoxicity; quality control; toxicity