Identification of bioactive compounds and cytogenotoxicity of the essential oil from the leaves of Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth.

Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth, popularly known as "quince" and "velame," contains a high concentration of volatile oils in the leaves, and widely used in folk medicine as an antiseptic, analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic and local anesthetic. The objectives of this investigation were to (1) identify the phytochemical compounds and (2) assess the cytogenotoxicity of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of C. heliotropiifolius Kunth. The oil was extracted utilizing hydrodistillation and phytochemical profile determined using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS). In the toxicogenetics analysis, Allium cepa roots were exposed to 1% dimethylsulfoxide or methylmethanesulfonate (MMS, 10 µg/ml) negative and positive controls, respectively, and to C. heliotropiifolius oil at 6 concentrations (0.32; 1.6; 8; 40; 200 or 1000 µg/ml). The phytochemical profile exhibited 40 chromatographic bands, and 33 compounds identified. α-pinene (16.7%) and 1,8-cineole (13.81%) were identified as the major compounds. Some of these identified secondary metabolites displayed biological and pharmacological activities previously reported including antiseptic, analgesic, sedative, anti-inflammatory as well insecticidal, antiviral, anti-fungal actions. In the A. cepa test, C. heliotropiifolius leaves oil induced cytotoxicity at concentrations of 0.32, 1.6 or 200 µg/ml and genotoxicity at 200 or 1000 µg/ml as evidenced by increased presence of micronuclei and significant chromosomal losses. Based upon our observations data demonstrated that the essential oil of C. heliotropiifolius leaves contain monoterpene hydrocarbons, and oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and oxygenated sesquiterpenes which are associated with cytotoxic and genotoxic responses noted in on A. cepa cells.

Modulating effect of DL-kavain on the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity induced by doxorubicin in Drosophila melanogaster.

Kavain, kavalactone, present in Piper methysticum exhibits anticonvulsive, analgesic, anxiolytic, antiepileptic, antithrombotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Given its importance, the aim of the present study was to assess (1) the mutagenic and carcinogenicity of kavain administered alone and (2) the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic potential when administered simultaneously with the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DXR) using the Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) and Epithelial Tumor Test (ETT) using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. Third-stage larvae from a standard (ST) and high metabolic bioactivation (HB) crosses were treated with different kavain concentrations (32, 64 or 128 µg/ml), alone or in conjunction with DXR (0.125 mg/ml). In ST descendants, kavain produced no significant mutagenic or recombinogenic effects. In the HB cross, mutagenic activity was observed at kavain concentrations of 64 and 128 µg/ml. In the DXR and kavain co-treatment, a modulating effect of the DXR-mediated mutagenic response dependent upon the concentration was detected in both crosses. In ETT, no marked carcinogenic or anticarcinogenic activity was noted for kavain. However, when kavain was combined with DXR synergistic induction of tumors by the chemotherapeutic drug occurred indicating that kavain enhanced the carcinogenic action of DXR.

Phytochemical prospecting, isolation, and protective effect of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill.

Jatropha mollissima is used in folk medicine as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and larvicidal. However, few toxicogenetic studies have been carried out. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical profile of ethanolic leaf extract of J. mollissima (EEJM) as well as potential cytotoxic, mutagenic, and antimutagenic properties. The EEJM was subjected to successive fractionation for the isolation of secondary metabolites, and five concentrations (0.01; 0.1; 1; 10 and 100 mg/ml) of extract were investigated using Allium cepa assay and the Somatic Mutation and Recombination (SMART) test. The mitotic index and % damage reduction were analyzed for A. cepa and the frequency of mutant hair for SMART. The presence of coumarins, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins was detected, while spinasterol and n-triacontane were the isolates identified for the first time for this species. EEJM did not exhibit cytotoxicity and was not mutagenic at 1 or 10 mg/ml using A. cepa and all concentrations of EEJM were not mutagenic in the SMART test. A cytoprotective effect was found at all concentrations. At 1 or 10 mg/ml EEJM exhibited antimutagenicity in A. cepa. In SMART, the protective effect was observed at 0.1 to 100 mg/ml EEJM. Our results demonstrate the important chemopreventive activity of EEJM, a desired quality in the search for natural anticarcinogenic compounds.

Phytochemical and antioxidant characterization, cytogenotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of the fractions of the ethanolic extract of in Poincianella bracteosa (Tul.) L.P. Queiroz.

POINCIANELLA BRACTEOSA: has been widely used in folk medicine to treat catarrhal infections, diarrhea, and anemia; however, phytochemical and toxicogenetic data are still lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the phytochemical and antioxidant characteristics as well as assess cytogenotoxicity and antigenotoxicity in hexane (HF), ether (EF) and ethyl acetate (AF) fractions of P. bracteosa leaves using Allium cepa bioassay. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins and phenolic groups. EF fraction contained a higher content of total phenolics (441.23 ± 1.82 mg GAE/g), while HF fraction showed a higher content of total flavonoids (84.77 ± 5.33 mg QE/g). Higher antioxidant activity was observed in EF (EC50 25.06 ± 0.07 µg/ml). Cytotoxic effect was verified for all fractions, but no chromosomal alterations were observed in the A. cepa assay. With respect to antigenotoxicity, the protective effect of EF and AF fractions was attributed to as evidenced by the modulation of mutagenic action of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), mainly by inhibiting the development of micronuclei. Among the fractions, EF was considered the most promising, as it exhibited higher antioxidant activity, was not genotoxic, exerted protective activity against the damage induced by MMS and also presented cytotoxic activity, a desired quality in the search for natural anticarcinogenic compounds.