RESUMEN
Kavain is one of the main kavalactones of Piper methysticum (Piperaceae) with anxiolytic, analgesic, and antioxidant activities. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, mutagenic, and antimutagenic potential of kavain in Allium cepa cells. Roots of A. cepa were transferred to the negative (2% acetone) and positive (10 µg/mL of Methylmethanesulfonate, MMS) controls and to the concentrations of kavain (32, 64 and 128 µg/mL) for 48 h. A total of 5,000 meristematic cells were analyzed under an optical microscope to determine the mitotic index, mean number of chromosomal alterations and percentage of damage reduction. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test (p <0.05). All concentrations of kavain were not cytotoxic and did not show significant chromosomal changes when compared to 2% acetone. Kavain showed a cytoprotective effect in the pre (128 µg/mL) and in the post-treatment (32 and 64 µg/mL) and reduced damage against the mutagenic action of MMS in all concentrations of the pre and simultaneous and at the highest of post (128 µg/mL). Kavain promoted a significant reduction in micronuclei, nuclear buds and chromosomal losses in relation to MMS. The observed data indicate the importance of kavain for the inhibition of damage and chemoprevention.