In vitro study of mutagenic potential of Bidens pilosa Linné and Mikania glomerata Sprengel using the comet and micronucleus assays.

Teas of Bidens pilosa and Mikania glomerata are popularly consumed to medicinal ends. The capacity to induce DNA damages and mutagenic effects of these teas were evaluated, in vitro, on HTC cells, with comet assay and micronucleus test. The teas tested at various doses were prepared differently: infusion of Mikania glomerata (IM) and Bidens pilosa (IB), macerate of Mikania glomerata in 80% ethanol (MM80) and decoction of Bidens pilosa (DB). In IM and MM80, the quantity of coumarin was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection. Methylmethanesulfonate was utilized as positive control, phosphate-buffered saline as negative control, 80% ethanol as solvent control and 2-aminoanthracene as drug metabolism control. The comet assay demonstrated genotoxic effects for both plants. The genotoxic potential of IB was upper than DB, showing dose-response. In the MN test, excepting IM 40 microL/mL, all treatments was not mutagenic. The effects did not show direct relation with cumarin quantity present in IM and MM80. The results demonstrated DNA damages at the highest concentrations of alcoholic macerate (10 and 20 microL/mL) and infusion of Mikania glomerata (20 and 40 microL/mL) and of Bidens pilosa infusion (40 microL/mL). Thus, both dose and preparation-form suggest caution in the phytotherapeutic use of these plants.

Avaliação do efeito de mikania glomerata sobre o sistema reprodutor e órgaõs de ratos wistar submetidos a tratamento subagudo / Short-term exposure to mikania glomerata on male wistar rats' organs and reproductive system

Mikania glomerata (guaco) is a plant well known in Brazil for its therapeutic properties, especially in the treatament of respiratory diseases. Coumarin and flavonoids are active compounds of M. glomerata leaves and have been reported to cause adverse effects on the organism, including antifertility activity in famale rat and male dog respectively. This work analyzes the effect of short-term administration of M.glomerata hydroalcoholic extract on vital organs, of the reproductive system and sperm concentration of mature male wistar rats. Treated animals received 1 ml of the extract at a dose of 1.1 g/kg of body weight for live days. Body and organs weights, sperm production and food consumption were evaluated. No body weigth reduction and no toxic effect on the organs, gamete production or food intake were detected in any of the groups analyzed, given the experimental protocol used.