Genotoxicity assessment of Garcinia achachairu Rusby (Clusiaceae) extract in mammalian cells in vivo

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Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Garcinia achachairu Rusby (Clusiaceae) is popularly known as “achachairu”, and is used in Bolivian folk medicine for its healing, digestive, and laxative properties, and in the treatment of gastritis, rheumatism and inflammation. Despite its widespread therapeutic use, there is a lack of data regarding its in vivo genotoxic effects. Therefore, in this study, we used the comet assay and the micronucleus test, respectively, to evaluate the possible genotoxic and clastogenic effects of Garcinia achachairu seed extract (GAE) on different cells of mice.

Material and methods

The GAE was administered by oral gavage at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. For the analysis, the comet assay was performed on the leukocytes (collected 4 and 24 h after treatment), liver, bone marrow and testicular cells (collected 24 h after treatment), and the micronucleus test (MN) on bone marrow cells. Cytotoxicity was assessed by scoring 200 consecutive polychromatic (PCE) and normochromatic (NCE) erythrocytes (PCE/NCE ratio).

Results and conclusion

The results showed that GAE did not induce significant DNA damage in leukocytes (4 h and 24 h samples), liver, bone marrow and testicular cells (24 h samples). GAE also did not show any significant increase in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) at the three tested doses. The PCE/NCE ratio indicated no cytotoxicity. Under our experimental conditions, the data obtained suggest that a single oral administration of G. achachairu extract does not cause genotoxicity and clastogenicity in different cells of mice.

Introduction

Preparations of medicinal plants are widely used in human therapy. Since in nature, some plants synthesize toxic chemicals, apparently as a primary defense mechanism against bacteria, fungi, insects and other animal predators, in-depth studies on their potential risks to human health are necessary.

Garcinia achachairu Rusby (Clusiaceae) is a plant belonging to the genus Garcinia – ex genus Rheedia (Sweeney, 2008), popularly known as “achachairu”. This plant is used in Bolivian folk medicine for its healing, digestive, and laxative properties, and for the treatment of gastritis, rheumatism and inflammation (Barbosa and Artiole, 2007). Some species of this genus have different chemical constituents, such as benzophenones and bioflavonoids, with great importance for the pharmaceutical industries due to the wide spectrum of biological activities of these compounds. Its activities include cytophatic inhibition of in vitro HIV infection; free radical scavenging; iNOS and COX-2 expression inhibition in carcinoma of the colon; induction of apoptosis, antiulcer, and trypanocidal properties (Martins et al., 2007). Recently, in our laboratories, we have demonstrated that the seed extract, fractions and a pure compound named Guttiferone A have important antinociceptive activity in different experimental models in mice (Molin et al., 2012).

According to the literature, using the comet assay and micronucleus test, it is possible to evaluate the potential genotoxicity of many compounds through in vitro and in vivo models (Aquino et al., 2011, Melo-Cavalcante et al., 2011, Ribeiro et al., 2010, Rodrigues et al., 2009). These assays have achieved the status of standard tests in the battery of tests used to assess the safety of novel pharmaceuticals or other chemicals (Candido-Bacani Pde et al., 2011). To our knowledge, there have been no previous studies investigating the genetic toxicity of plants belonging to the Garcinia genus. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the genotoxic and clastogenic potential of Garcinia achachairu seeds extract (GAE) on different cells of mice using the comet and micronucleus assays, respectively.

Section snippets

Plant material

The material (leaves, seeds and branches) of G. achachairu were collected separately in Camboriú, Santa Catarina, in March 2007 and identified by Dr. Oscar B. Iza (Department of Botany, University of Vale do Itajaí). A voucher specimen was deposited at the Barbosa Rodrigues Herbarium (Itajaí-SC) under number HBR 52637. In this work, only the extract prepared from the seeds was used.

Extract preparation

Air-dried and powdered seeds (250 g) of G. achachairu were extracted at room temperature by maceration with

Results and discussion

The therapeutic use of natural products, including medicinal plants, has become increasingly prevalent. Many pharmacognostical and pharmacological investigations have been performed to identify lead compounds for drug development (Newman et al., 2003). Due to the biological activities of these compounds, evaluation of its genotoxic/mutagenic potential is essential (Bast et al., 2002, Rodeiro et al., 2006, Santos et al., 2007, Tice et al., 2000).

The phytochemical profile of the Garcinia

Acknowledgments

E.S. Marques thanks CAPES for a Master's scholarship and Patrícia C. Martins Mello for her technical assistance.

References (29)

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