Total glucosides of paeony for the treatment of psoriasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a common chronic relapsing immune-mediated inflammatory disease, the prevalence of which has increased in recent years. At present, there are many treatment methods available for the condition, but the curative effect is unsatisfactory. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, adverse reactions, and recurrence rates of using paeoniflorin capsules for psoriasis treatment. STUDY DESIGN: systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials comparing total glycosides of paeony (TGP) with other treatments for patients with psoriasis were retrieved by searching EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases. Cochrane bias risk tool was used to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trial (RCT) methodology. The primary outcome measure is the effective number. Secondary outcomes included psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), adverse reactions, recurrence, and inflammatory biomarkers. RESULTS: In all, 30 RCTs with 2,802 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The studies were generally of low methodological quality. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the use of TGP capsule alone and other monotherapies in the treatment of psoriasis (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.76-1.15; p = 0.50), the addition of TGP to other therapies had an advantage over monotherapy with regard to the effective number (RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.26-1.37; p < 0.00001), PASI (RR: -3.40; 95% CI: -4.22,-2.57; p < 0.00001), adverse reactions, recurrence rate (RR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.74; p = 0.002), and inflammatory inhibition (RR:-12.54; 95% CI: -18.50, -6.59; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: TGP can be used to treat psoriasis with reduced adverse reactions and recurrence rates. However, the mechanism of TGP in psoriasis treatment requires to be evaluated further in high-quality, large-sample, and rigorous clinical studies.

Phytomedicines in Acute Rhinosinusitis: A Prospective, Non-interventional Parallel-Group Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this prospective, multicenter, parallel-group, non-interventional clinical trial (NIT) was to characterize the effectiveness of a treatment with the phytomedicines ELOM-080 and BNO 1016 in patients with acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). METHODS: A total of 228 patients suffering from ARS took part in this NIT and were treated for a maximum of 14 days with either BNO 1016 or ELOM-080. Focus was on improvement of rhinosinusitis-associated pain/discomfort and nasal congestion in real-life conditions of primary care setting, as assessed by numeric and verbal rating scale, and five-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The course of the key ARS symptom facial pain demonstrated a faster recovery in patients with ELOM-080, when compared to BNO 1016. ELOM-080 tended to be superior for several ancillary criteria and induced significantly higher patient satisfaction with regard to the improvement of feeling of general illness. Physicians assessed both products to be very effective and well tolerated. Adverse drug reactions classified as gastrointestinal disorders occurred in both groups to a comparable extent. CONCLUSION: This trial demonstrated comparable effectiveness of a therapy of ARS with the phytomedicines ELOM-080 and BNO 1016, although the treatment with ELOM-080 resulted in a more rapid and more complete recovery in ARS key symptoms and tended to be superior for several ancillary criteria. Both treatments were well tolerated. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NIS-6471. FUNDING: G. Pohl-Boskamp GmbH & Co. KG.

Combination of carvacrol with simvastatin improves the lipid-lowering efficacy and alleviates simvastatin side effects.

The present investigation was designed to examine the possible additive hypolipidemic effect of carvacrol (CARV) in combination with simvastatin (SIM) on poloxamer 407 (P407)-induced hyperlipidemia. Rats were injected with P407, (500 mg/ kg; i.p.), twice a week, for 30 days. Treatment was carried out by administration of SIM (20 mg/kg/day; p.o.) or CARV (50 mg/kg/day; p.o.) or combination of them. Treatment with CARV significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, atherogenic index, leptin, and increased high-density lipoprotein and adiponectin. Moreover, CARV potentiated the hypolipidemic effect of SIM. Both SIM and CARV alleviated the oxidative stress induced by P407. Interestingly, CARV, when combined with SIM, significantly ameliorated SIM-induced liver and muscle injury by reducing the level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and myoglobin and restoring the normal histological picture of both liver and muscle as well as apoptosis.

Uses of hazardous medicinal plants: composition of the essential oil of Clinopodium gilliesii (Benth. ) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), collected in Chile / Uso de plantas medicinales peligrosas: composición del aceite esencial de Clinopodium gilliesii (Benth. ) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), recolectada en Chile

Clinopodium gilliesii (Benth.) Kuntze, harvested in the Chilean highlands, contains a surprising 93.87% of the toxic monoterpene pulegone in the essential oil. These results show remarkable differences with studies of the same species carried out in Argentina and Peru. These dissimilarities in the monoterpene composition of essential oils should be associated with differences in toxicity and biological activity of this medicinal plant used in ethnomedicine in different countries for the treatment of similar discomforts and diseases. These results are discussed considering the risk of consuming C. gilliesii, without clear recommendations and control of at least pulegone content in essential oils.

Clinopodium gilliesii (Benth.) Kuntze, recolectada en el altiplano chileno, contiene un sorprendente 93,87% del monoterpeno toxico pulegona, en el aceite esencial. Estos resultados muestran diferencias notables con estudios de la misma especie realizados en Argentina y Perú. Estas disimilitudes, en la composición de los aceites esenciales deben estar asociadas con diferencias en la toxicidad y actividad biológica de esta especie medicinal que se utiliza en etnomedicina en diferentes lugares para el tratamiento de molestias y enfermedades similares. Estos resultados se discuten considerando el riesgo de consumir C. gilliesii, sin recomendaciones claras y control de al menos el contenido de pulegona en los aceites esenciales.

Antimicrobial activity of coriander oil and its effectiveness as food preservative.

ABTRACT Foodborne illness represents a major economic burden worldwide and a serious public health threat, with around 48 million people affected and 3,000 death each year only in the USA. One of the possible strategies to reduce foodborne infections is the development of effective preservation strategies capable of eradicating microbial contamination of foods. Over the last years, new challenges for the food industry have arisen such as the increase of antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens to common preservatives and consumers demand for naturally based products. In order to overcome this, new approaches using natural or bio-based products as food preservatives need to be investigated. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is a well-known herb widely used as spice, or in folk medicine, and in the pharmacy and food industries. Coriander seed oil is the world's second most relevant essential oil, exhibiting antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, some yeasts, dermatophytes and filamentous fungi. This review highlights coriander oil antimicrobial activity and possible mechanisms of action in microbial cells and discusses the ability of coriander oil usage as a food preservative, pointing out possible paths for the successful evolution for these strategies towards a successful development of a food preservation strategy using coriander oil.

Anti-inflammatory and healing action of oral gel containing borneol monoterpene in chemotherapy-induced mucositis in rats ( Rattus norvegicus )

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gels containing the monoterpene borneol in induced oral mucositis using an animal model. Gels were prepared with borneol at 1.2% and 2.4% (w/w). Oral mucositis was induced by administration of three doses of 5-fluorouracil (30 mg/kg, i.p.) and injury with acetic acid (50%, v/v) soaked in filter paper applied to right cheek mucosa for 60s. Four subgroups comprising 12 animals each were formed. Six animals from each group were sacrificed at days seven and fourteen after oral mucositis induction. Mucous samples were processed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson's Trichrome. The semiquantitative evaluation involved observation of inflammatory parameters. ImageJ® software was used in the quantitative evaluation. For statistical analyses, Two-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's post-test (p <0.05), were employed. Borneol 2.4% gel proved effective in the treatment of oral mucositis with statistically significant differences between groups for angiogenesis control, inflammatory cell count reduction and percentage neoformed collagen increase. The confirmation of anti-inflammatory and healing action of borneol in oral mucositis in rats renders it a good marker for predicting this activity for plant extracts rich in this substance

Effect of ELOM-080 on exacerbations and symptoms in COPD patients with a chronic bronchitis phenotype - a post-hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Treating symptoms and preventing exacerbations are key components of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) long-term management. Recently, a more tailored treatment approach has been proposed, in particular for two well-established clinical phenotypes, frequent exacerbators and chronic bronchitis-dominant COPD. ELOM-080 has demonstrated clinical efficacy in treating symptoms and preventing exacerbations in subjects with chronic bronchitis. However, little is known about the potential effects of ELOM-080 in COPD patients. AIM: To evaluate the effect on exacerbation, cough sputum, and general state of health of long-term treatment with ELOM-080 in COPD patients with an exacerbation history and chronic bronchitis. METHODS: We performed a post-hoc analysis of a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel-group clinical trial of a 6-month treatment with ELOM-080 (3×300 mg) in patients with chronic bronchitis and concomitant COPD. The primary outcome was the proportion of subjects with at least one exacerbation over the 6-month study period. Secondary outcomes included the total number of exacerbations (ie, cumulative occurrence of exacerbations during the study period) and the proportion of acute exacerbations necessitating an antibiotic treatment, monthly evaluations of sputum and cough symptoms, and the general state of health and a safety analysis. RESULTS: Of 260 randomized subjects, 64 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for COPD (ELOM-080: 35, placebo: 29). Compared to placebo, ELOM-080 reduced the percentage of subjects with at least one exacerbation (29% versus 55%, P=0.031) and a reduction in the overall occurrence of exacerbations (ELOM-080: 10, placebo: 21, P=0.012) during the winter season. The percentage of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients (sputum/expectoration and cough) was consistently higher in the ELOM-080 group compared to placebo, with statistical significant differences after 2 and 3 months of treatment (2 months: ELOM-080 25%, placebo 11%, P<0.005; 3 months: ELOM-080 26%, placebo 14%, P<0.05). Likewise the subjective rating of general health status was better in the ELOM-080 group with statistically significant superiority after 2 and 3 months of treatment (2-month treatment: P=0.015; 3-month treatment: P=0.024). Tolerability results were comparable between ELOM-080 and placebo. CONCLUSION: ELOM-080 is efficacious in patients with COPD and a chronic bronchitis phenotype. Prophylactic use reduces the rate of exacerbations and improves the key symptoms of sputum and cough with a favorable long-term tolerability profile.

Tea tree oil: contact allergy and chemical composition.

In this article, contact allergy to, and the chemical composition of, tea tree oil (TTO) are reviewed. This essential oil is a popular remedy for many skin diseases, and may be used as neat oil or be present in cosmetics, topical pharmaceuticals and household products. Of all essential oils, TTO has caused most (published) allergic reactions since the first cases were reported in 1991. In routine testing, prevalences of positive patch test reactions have ranged from 0.1% to 3.5%. Nearly 100 allergic patients have been described in case reports and case series. The major constituents of commercial TTO are terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, 1,8-cineole, α-terpinene, α-terpineol, p-cymene, and α-pinene. Fresh TTO is a weak to moderate sensitizer, but oxidation increases its allergenic potency. The major sensitizers appear to be ascaridole, terpinolene, α-terpinene, 1,2,4-trihydroxymenthane, α-phellandrene, and limonene. The clinical picture of allergic contact dermatitis caused by TTO depends on the products used. Most reactions are caused by the application of pure oil; cosmetics are the culprits in a minority of cases. Patch testing may be performed with 5% oxidized TTO. Co-reactivity to turpentine oil is frequent, and there is an overrepresentation of reactions to fragrance mix I, Myroxylon pereirae, colophonium, and other essential oils.

Quantitative estimation of pulegone in Mentha longifolia growing in Saudi Arabia. Is it safe to use?

Our TLC study of the volatile oil isolated from Mentha longifolia showed a major UV active spot with higher Rf value than menthol. Based on the fact that the components of the oil from same plant differ quantitatively due to environmental conditions, the major spot was isolated using different chromatographic techniques and identified by spectroscopic means as pulegone. The presence of pulegone in M. longifolia, a plant widely used in Saudi Arabia, raised a hot debate due to its known toxicity. The Scientific Committee on Food, Health & Consumer Protection Directorate General, European Commission set a limit for the presence of pulegone in foodstuffs and beverages. In this paper we attempted to determine the exact amount of pulegone in different extracts, volatile oil as well as tea flavoured with M. longifolia (Habak) by densitometric HPTLC validated methods using normal phase (Method I) and reverse phase (Method II) TLC plates. The study indicated that the style of use of Habak in Saudi Arabia resulted in much less amount of pulegone than the allowed limit.

[Use of Myrtol standardized in the treatment of children with acute rhinosinusitis].

The present study included 60 children at the age from 6 to 10 years undergoing a course of out-patient and in-patient treatment of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). Thirty of these patients were given Myrtol standardised in the dose of 120 mg thrice daily for 7 days, in addition to traditional therapy.With convincing objective data for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (in accordance with the criteria of EP3OS 2012), antibacterial preparations were prescribed to the children. The remaining patients received either conventional (symptomatic, irrigation) therapy or systemic antimicrobial agents. The analysis of characteristics of the visual-analog scale reflecting the severity of rhinorrhea, basal congestion, and coughing has demonstrated a significant (р<0,05) difference between the two groups of children in terms of manifestations of the clinical symptoms within days 7 and 14 after the onset of the treatment. For basal congestion, the difference was apparent as soon as day 3 after the beginning of therapy. The duration of the treatment with intranasal vasoconstrictive medications used for symptomatic therapy by the patients given Myrtol standardized was 2.2±0.4 days in comparison with 3.6±0.5 days in the control group. None of the patients treated with GeloMyrtol exhibited any adverse reaction attributable to the action of the medication in being studied. The study has demonstrated that using Myrtol standardized for the treatment of the uncomplicated forms of acute rhinosinusitis in children is clinically effective, safe, and convenient method for the management of ARS in children. And it can be recommended for the wide practical application.

Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Amygdalin and Paeoniflorin After Single and Multiple Intravenous Infusions of Huoxue-Tongluo Lyophilized Powder for Injection in Healthy Chinese Volunteers.

PURPOSE: Huoxue-Tongluo lyophilized powder for injection (HTLPI), a traditional Chinese medicine preparation, is a compound of Persicae semen and Paeoniae Radix Rubra that is used mainly for treating blood-stasis obstruction syndrome in the acute stage of cerebral ischemic stroke. Amygdalin (AD) and paeoniflorin (PF) are 2 typical bioactive components in HTLPI and were selected as indicators for this pharmacokinetic study of HTLPI. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety profile, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic properties of AD and PF after single and multiple intravenous infusions of HTLPI in healthy Chinese volunteers. METHODS: Twenty-one healthy Chinese subjects were recruited for this open-label, single ascending-dose (3, 6, and 9 g) and multiple-dose (6 g, once daily) study. Safety profile was assessed by adverse events and physical examination throughout the study. Serial plasma and urine samples were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters of AD and PF were calculated using noncompartmental analysis. FINDINGS: In the single-dose phase of the study, the mean maximum plasma concentration and the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve of AD and PF increased proportionally with each dose escalation. In the multiple-dose phase, the steady state was achieved by day 4 after multiple-dose administration of 6 g HTLPI. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters achieved on day 1 were similar to those on day 7. No significant accumulation was observed after repeat doses of 6 g HTLPI. Approximately 79.6% of the administered AD and 48.4% of the administered PF were excreted unchanged in urine within 24 hours. No serious adverse events were observed during the entire study. IMPLICATIONS: The pharmacokinetic properties of AD and PF were linear after a single intravenous infusion of HTLPI in the dose range of 3-9 g. No systemic accumulation was observed with repeat doses of HTLPI. Sex had no significant effect on the pharmacokinetic properties of AD and PF. Intravenous infusion of HTLPI was well tolerated in healthy Chinese subjects.

Contact allergy to essential oils cannot always be predicted from allergy to fragrance markers in the baseline series.

BACKGROUND: Essential oils are fragrance substances that are labelled on cosmetic products by their INCI names, potentially confusing consumers. OBJECTIVES: To establish whether contact allergy to essential oils might be missed if not specifically tested for. METHODS: We tested 471 patients with 14 essential oils and 2104 patients with Melaleuca alternifolia oil between January 2008 and June 2014. All patients were tested with fragrance mix I, fragrance mix II, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, and Myroxylon pereirae. Three hundred and twenty-six patients were tested with hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients had a +/++/+++ reaction to at least one essential oil. Eleven had no reaction to any of the six marker fragrance substances. Thus, 4 of 11 positive reactions to M. alternifolia oil, 2 of 7 reactions to Cymbopogon flexuosus oil, 1 of 5 reactions to Cananga odorata oil, 3 of 4 reactions to Santalum album oil and 2 of 3 reactions to Mentha piperita oil would have been missed without individual testing. CONCLUSION: A small number of patients who are allergic to essential oils could be missed if these are not specifically tested. Labelling by INCI names means that exposure may not be obvious. Careful inspection of so-called 'natural' products and targeted testing is recommended.

Essential Oil from Berries of Lebanese Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb Displays Similar Antibacterial Activity to Chlorhexidine but Higher Cytocompatibility with Human Oral Primary Cells.

Chlorhexidine (CHX), one of the most effective drugs administered for periodontal treatment, presents collateral effects including toxicity when used for prolonged periods; here, we have evaluated the bactericidal potency and the cytocompatibility of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb essential oil (EO) in comparison with 0.05% CHX. The EO was extracted from berries by hydrodistillation and components identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Bacterial inhibition halo analysis, quantitative cell viability 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphophenyl)-5-[(phenyl amino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide assay (XTT), and colony forming unit (CFU) count were evaluated against the two biofilm formers Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Streptococcus mutans. Finally, cytocompatibility was assessed with human primary gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and mucosal keratinocytes (HK). The resulting EO was mainly composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes. An inhibition halo test demonstrated that both bacteria were sensitive to the EO; XTT analysis and CFU counts confirmed that 10-fold-diluted EO determined a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in bacteria count and viability towards both biofilm and planktonic forms in a comparable manner to those obtained with CHX. Moreover, EO displayed higher cytocompatibility than CHX (p < 0.05). In conclusion, EO exhibited bactericidal activity similar to CHX, but a superior cytocompatibility, making it a promising antiseptic alternative to CHX.

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels essential oil and its major constituent α-pinene exhibit anti-Leishmania activity through immunomodulation in vitro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels (Myrtaceae), commonly known as "jambolão" in Brazil is widely used in folk medicine against leishmaniasis, inflammation, chronic diarrhea, and ulcers. It is one of the most commonly used plants for the treatment of diabetes worldwide. In previous studies, Syzygium cumini was shown to possess antihyperlipidemic and anti-allergic properties, and to exhibit good performance as an antimicrobial agent against bacteria, fungi, and protozoa parasites of the genus Leishmania and Trypanosoma. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of S. cumini essential oil (ScEO) and its major component α-pinene on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, as well as their cytotoxicity and possible mechanisms of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the anti-proliferative effect on Leishmania, effects on promastigote and axenic amastigote forms were assessed using tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay. The intramacrophagic amastigotes were exposed to ScEO and α-pinene to determine the survival index. To gain insight into the mechanism of action involved in the effect on the samples, we evaluated the modulation of macrophage activation state by observing structural (phagocytic and lysosomal activities) and cellular (nitric oxide increase) changes. To assess the safety profile of ScEO and α-pinene, murine macrophages and human red blood cells were treated with ScEO and α-pinene and the selectivity index was calculated for each treatment. RESULTS: α-Pinene was effective against Leishmania amazonensis promastigote forms, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 19.7µg/mL. α-Pinene was more active (IC50 values of 16.1 and 15.6µg/mL against axenic and intracellular amastigotes, respectively) than ScEO (IC50 values of 43.9 and 38.1µg/mL against axenic and intracellular amastigotes, respectively). Our results showed that the anti-Leishmania effects were mediated by immunomodulatory activity, as evidenced by the observed increases in both phagocytic and lysosomal activity, and the elevated NO levels. ScEO and α-pinene exhibited low cytotoxicity against murine macrophages and human erythrocytes. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) values for the macrophages in the MTT assay were 614.1 and 425.2µg/mL for ScEO and α-pinene, respectively, while the corresponding half-maximal hemolytic concentration (HC50) values were 874.3 and 233.3µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the results demonstrate that ScEO and its major constituent α-pinene have significant anti-Leishmania activity, modulated by macrophage activation, with acceptable levels of cytotoxicity in murine macrophages and human erythrocytes. Further work is warranted, involving more in-depth mechanistic studies and in vivo investigations.

Evaluation of linalool, a natural antimicrobial and insecticidal essential oil from basil: effects on poultry.

Linalool is a natural plant-product used in perfumes, cosmetics, and flavoring agents. Linalool has proven antimicrobial and insect-repellent properties, which indicate it might be useful for control of enteropathogens or insect pests in poultry production. However, there are no published reports that linalool may be safely administered to or tolerated by chickens. Linalool was added to the diets of day-of-hatch chicks, and they were fed linalool-supplemented diets for 3 wk. We studied the effects of linalool on serum chemistry, gross pathology, feed conversion, and relative liver weights. Linalool had a dramatic negative dose-dependent effect on feed conversion at concentrations in the feed exceeding 2% linalool, but not on gross pathology. Liver weights were significantly increased in the 5% linalool-treated birds. There was a statistical effect on blood glucose, but this parameter remained below the cut-offs for elevated serum glucose, and the result is likely of no biological significance. Linalool caused serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels to increase, but it did not increase serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels. The linalool effect on AST was dose-dependent, but in linalool doses between 0.1 and 2% of the feed, AST was not elevated beyond normal parameters. Linalool at 2% or less may be safely added to chicken feed. We suggest future studies to evaluate the addition of linalool to the litter, where it may be used as an antimicrobial or an insect repellent or to produce a calming effect.

Assessment of the in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity of extracts and indole monoterpene alkaloid from the roots of Galianthe thalictroides (Rubiaceae).

Roots of Galianthe thalictroides K. Schum. (Rubiaceae) are used in folk medicine in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, for treating and preventing cancer. To gain information about the genotoxicity of extracts (aqueous and EtOH), the CHCl3 phase resulting from partition of the EtOH extract and the indole monoterpene alkaloid 1 obtained from this plant. The genotoxicity of 1 and extracts was evaluated in vivo through the Drosophila melanogaster wing Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test - SMART, while in vitro cytotoxic (MTT) and Comet assays were performed only with alkaloid 1. The results obtained with the SMART test indicated that the aqueous extract had no genotoxic activity. The EtOH extract was not genotoxic to ST descendants but genotoxic to HB ones. The CHCl3 phase was genotoxic and cytotoxic. Alkaloid 1 showed significant mutational events with SMART, in the cytotoxicity assay (MTT), it showed a high cytotoxicity for human hepatoma cells (HepG2), whereas for the Comet assay, not showing genotoxic activity. The ethanol extract was shown to be genotoxic to HB descendants in the SMART assay, while the results obtained in this test for the monoterpene indole alkaloid 1 isolated from this extract.