In vitro biochemical characterization and genotoxicity assessment of Sapindus saponaria seed extract.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sapindus saponaria, also popularly known as soapberry, has been used in folk medicinal values because of its therapeutic properties and several compounds in its composition, which represent a target in potential for drug discovery. However, few data about its potential toxicity has been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY: Plant proteins can perform essential roles in survival, acting as defense mechanism, as well functioning as important molecular reserves for its natural metabolism. The aim of the current study was to investigate the in vitro toxicity profile of protein extract of S. saponaria and detect protein potentially involved in biological effects such as collagen hydrolysis and inhibition of viral proteases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Protein extract of soapberry seeds was investigated for its cytotoxic and genotoxic action using the Ames test. The protein extract was also subjected to a partial purification process of a protease and a protease inhibitor by gel chromatography filtration techniques and the partially isolated proteins were characterized biochemically. RESULTS: Seed proteins extract of S. saponaria was evaluated until 100 µg/mL concentration, presenting cytotoxicity and mutagenicity in bacterial model mostly when exposed to exogenous metabolic system and causing cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in HepG2 cells. The purification and partial characterization of a serine protease (43 kDa) and a cysteine protease inhibitor (32.8 kDa) from protein extract of S. Saponaria, corroborate the idea of ​​the biological use of the plant as an insecticide and larvicide. Although it shows cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic effects. CONCLUSION: The overall results of the present study provide supportive data on the potential use of proteins produced in S. saponaria seeds as pharmacological and biotechnological agents that can be further explored for the development of new drugs.

Alterations in the indexes of apoptosis and necrosis induced by galactosamine in the liver of Wistar rats treated with fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.

Galactosamine (GalN) is a hepatotoxic agent, which under determined situations provokes metabolic and energetic depletion as well as alterations in permeability, leading to cellular death. At the same time, it is known that fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) helps maintain cell energy levels and protects the cell against this lesive agent. We submitted two groups of male Wistar rats to the harmful intraperitoneal doses of GalN (400 mg/kg), one of which simultaneously received FBP (2 g/kg). Techniques were used in the analysis of the cellular components, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and hepatic calcium and a close relationship between the types of cellular death unchained by these agents was established. The liver of the rats treated with GalN showed energy depletion and concomitant increase calcium in the hepatic tissue, which provoked higher levels of necrosis leading to reduce cellular viability. On the other hand, the group which had received GalN+FBP maintained calcium levels close to the control values and the energy rate did not decrease as much as in the GalN only group, but recovered the control values, within a period of 48 h. At the same time, the degree of apoptosis was greater than in the GalN group. This fact suggests that the FBP maintains cellular levels of ATP, thus protecting the cell from the toxic action of GalN, reducing the percentage of dead cells and causing an alteration in the pattern of the cell death, whereby there is an increase in the rate of apoptosis and a decrease in that of necrosis.