Cytotoxic, acute oral toxicity, genotoxic and mutagenic assessment of the essential oil from fresh leaves of Croton argyrophyllus (Kunth.).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Croton argyrophyllus Kunth., commonly known as "marmeleiro" or "cassetinga," is widely distributed in the Brazilian Northeast region. Its leaves and flowers are used in traditional medicine as tranquilizers to treat flu and headaches. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition and toxicological safety of essential oil from C. argyrophyllus leaves using in vitro and in vivo models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. Cytotoxicity was tested in the HeLa, HT-29, and MCF-7 cell lines derived from human cells (Homo sapiens) and Vero cell lines derived from monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) using the MTT method. Acute toxicity, genotoxicity. Mutagenicity tests were performed in Swiss mice (Mus musculus), which were administered essential oil orally in a single dose of 2000 mg/kg by gavage. RESULTS: The main components of the essential oil were p-mentha-2-en-1-ol, α-terpineol, ß-caryophyllene, and ß-elemene. The essential oil exhibited more than 90% cytotoxicity in all cell lines tested. No deaths or behavioral, hematological, or biochemical changes were observed in mice, revealing no acute toxicity. In genotoxic and mutagenic analyses, there was no increase in micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes or in the damage and index in the comet assay. CONCLUSIONS: The essential oil was cytotoxic towards the tested cell lines but did not exert toxic effects or promote DNA damage when administered orally at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg in mice.

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana e antitumoral, frente ao sarcoma 180, do extrato bruto de luffa operculata cogn. (cucurbitaceae) / Assessment of antimicrobial and anti-tumor activity, against sarcoma 180, of the crude extract of luffa operculata cogn. (cucurbitaceae) / Evaluación de la actividad antimicrobiana y antitumoral frente a sarcoma 180 del extracto crudo de luffa operculata cogn. (cucurbitaceae)

Luffa operculata Cogn. pertence à família Cucurbitaceae, sendo popularmente denominada como buchinha, cabaçinha e purga-dos-paulistas. Sua análise fitoquímica demonstrou a presença de glicosídeos, saponina e resina, esteróis livres, ácidos orgânicos, fenóis e, com ausência de taninos. Além disso, essa família é produtora de triterpenos com esqueletos modificados denominados de cucurbitacinas, substâncias de alto valor farmacológico. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana e antitumoral, frente ao Sarcoma 180, do extrato bruto da Luffa operculata Cogn.. No ensaio antimicrobiano foram utilizadas espécimes bacterianas e fúngicas da origem clínica e de coleção. Para analisar a atividade antitumoral, células tumorais foram implantadas na região axilar de camundongos albinos Swiss (Mus musculus). O grupo controle recebeu solução salina 0,9% e no grupo padrão administrou-se metotrexato (10 mg/kg de peso corpóreo). Os grupos tratados receberam por via intraperitoneal doses nas concentrações de 0,3, 0,6 ou 1,0 mg/kg de peso corpóreo do extrato bruto etanólico de Luffa operculata Cogn.. Os resultados demonstraram que o extrato do Luffa operculata Cogn. apresenta atividade antimicrobiana contra Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Candida albicans e Candida tropicalis. No que diz respeito a atividade antitumoral, os animais tratados com o extrato nas doses 0,3 e 0,6 mg/kg não apresentaram redução relevante dos tumores de Sarcoma 180, quando comparado com o grupo controle. Entretanto, os animais tratados com a dose 1,0 mg/kg obtiveram índice de inibição de 61,7%. Dessa forma, concluímos que o extrato bruto de Luffa operculata Cogn. apresenta atividade antimicrobiana e, na dose de 1 mg/kg, apresenta atividade antitumoral reduzindo significativamente os tumores de Sarcoma 180.

Luffa operculata Cogn. belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, popularly known as buchinha, cabaçinha and purga-dos-paulistas. Its phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of glycosides, saponin and resin, free sterols, organic acids, phenols and the absence of tannins. In addition, this family produces triterpenes with modified skeletons called cucurbitacins, substances of high pharmacological value. This work aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antitumor activity, against Sarcoma 180, of the crude extract of Luffa operculata Cogn.. In the antimicrobial assay, bacterial and fun- gal specimens of clinical and collection origin were used. To analyze the antitumor activ- ity tumor cells were implanted in the axillary region in albino Swiss mice (Mus musculus). The control group received 0.9% saline solution; and the standard group received meth- otrexate (10 mg/kg per body weight). The treated groups received intraperitoneal doses at concentrations of 0.3, 0.6; and 1.0 mg/kg per body weight of crude ethanolic extract of Luffa operculata Cogn., respectively. The results demonstrated that the extract of Luffa operculata Cogn. has antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococ- cus epidermidis, Candida albicans, and Candida tropicalis. Concerning antitumor activ- ity, the animals treated with the extract at doses of 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg did not show a relevant reduction in Sarcoma 180 tumors, when compared to the control group. How- ever, animals treated with a dose of 1mg/kg had an inhibition rate of 61.7%. Thus, we concluded that the crude extract of Luffa operculata Cogn. it has antimicrobial activity; and only at the highest dose (1 mg/kg) did it significantly reduce Sarcoma 180 tumors. KEYWORDS: Luffa Operculata Cogn.; Antimicrobian Activity; Sarcoma 180.

Luffa operculata Cog. pertenece a la familia de las Cucurbitáceas, siendo popularmente conocida como buchinha, cabaçinha y purga-dos-paulistas. Su análisis fi- toquímico demostró la presencia de glucósidos, saponina y resina, esteroles libres, ácidos orgánicos, fenoles y ausencia de taninos. Además, esta familia es produtora de triterpenos con esqueletos modificados llamados cucurbitacinas, sustancias de alto valor farmacoló- gico. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar la actividad antimicrobiana y antitumoral, contra el Sarcoma 180, del extracto crudo de Luffa operculata Cogn.. En el ensayo anti- microbiano se utilizaron especímenes bacterianos y fúngicos de origen clínico y de co- lección. Para analizar la actividad antitumoral, se implantaron células tumorales en la región axilar de ratones albinos suizos (Mus musculus). El grupo control recibió solución salina al 0,9% y el grupo estándar recibió metotrexato (10 mg/kg por peso corporal). Los grupos tratados recibieron dosis intraperitoneales a concentraciones de 0,3, 0,6 y 1,0 mg/kg por peso corporal de extracto etanólico crudo de Luffa operculata Cogn., respec- tivamente. Los resultados demostraron que el extracto de Luffa operculata Cogn. tiene actividad antimicrobiana contra Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Candida albicans y Candida tropicalis. En cuanto a la actividad antitumoral, los animales tratados con el extracto a dosis de 0,3 y 0,6 mg/kg no mostraron una reducción relevante de tumores Sarcoma 180, al compararlos con el grupo control. Sin embargo, los animales tratados con una dosis de 1 mg/kg tuvieron una tasa de inhibición del 61,7 %. Por lo tanto, concluimos que el extracto crudo de Luffa operculata Cogn. tiene actividad antimicro- biana y solo en la dosis más alta (1 mg/kg) redujo significativamente los tumores Sarcoma 180.