Mutagenicity induced by the hydroalcoholic extract of the medicinal plant Plathymenia reticulata Benth

Della Torre A (1), Albuquerque LBL (1), Farrapo NM (1), Oshima-Franco Y (1), Santos MG (2), Tavares RVS (1), Rodas ACD (3), Dal Belo CA (4), Cardoso CRP (5), Varanda EA (5), Groppo FC (6), Lopes PS (7)

(1) University of Sorocaba, UNISO, Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brazil; (2) Federal University of Tocantins, UFT, Porto Nacional, Tocantins State, Brazil; (3) Nuclear and Energy Research Institute, IPEN, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil; (4) Federal University of Pampa, UNIPAMPA, São Gabriel, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil; (5) São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Araraquara, São Paulo State, Brazil, Brazil; (6) Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil; (7) Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, Diadema, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Abstract: Plathymenia reticulata Benth has an anti-inflammatory effect and is capable of neutralizing the neuromuscular blockade induced by Bothrops jararacussu or Crotalus durissus terrificus venoms, probably by precipitating venom proteins (an effect caused by plant tannins). The present study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic activity of P. reticulata by using the Salmonella mutagenicity assay (Ames test) and the micronucleus test in CHO-K1 cells. P. reticulata extract concentrations of 2.84, 5.68, 11.37, and 19.90 mg/plate were assayed by the Ames test using TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 bacterial strains, with (+S9) and without (-S9) metabolic activation. Concentrations of 5, 1.6 and 0.5 μg/mL of P. reticulata extract were used for the micronucleus test. P. reticulata extract was mutagenic to TA98 (&endash;S9) and showed signs of mutagenic activity in TA97a and TA102 (both &endash;S9) strains. Micronucleus test CBPI values showed that the endogenous metabolic system increased the number of viable cells when compared to the non-activated samples and the micronucleus frequency increased when the cells were treated in the absence of S9. We concluded that P. reticulata extract may present direct mutagenic properties.

Key words: Ames test, micronucleus test, mutagenicity, plant extract, Plathymenia reticulata.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and The State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for financial support, the University of Sorocaba for the infrastructure and Natália Mencacci Esteves-Pedro and Virginia Sbrugnera Nazato for their kind contribution to this study.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2011

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: January 12, 2011.

Accepted: April 4, 2011.

Abstract published online: April 6, 2011.

Full paper published online: May 31, 2011.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

There is no conflict.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

CNPq and FAPESP provided the financial grants.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

The present study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Vale do Paraíba University (UNIVAP) under the protocol number A22/CEP/2008.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

PATRICIA SANTOS LOPES, Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, UNIFESP, Rua Prof. Artur Riedel, 275, Diadema, SP, 09972-270, Brasil. Phone: +55 11 33193308. Fax: +55 11 33196428. Email: patricia.lopes@unifesp.br.