RESUMEN

Melampodium divaricatum is a member of the Asteraceae and in Brazil is known as false-calendula, its flowers being used in anti-inflammatory preparations, substituting the true calendula or marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). The flower extract was investigated for mutagenic and antimutagenic effect in the Salmonella/microsome assay. The tested extract was not mutagenic in the strains TA100, TA98, TA97a and TA102 and decreased the mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1, benzo(a)pyrene and daunomycin. Chlorophyll and triterpenes were detected in the extract, and they might have contributed to the observed effect. Our data suggest that these medicinal plants possess cancer chemopreventive properties.

Asunto(s)

Antimutagênicos/farmacología , Asteraceae/química , Mutágenos/toxicidad , Salmonella typhimurium/efectos de los fármacos , Salmonella typhimurium/genética , Aflatoxina B1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Aflatoxina B1/toxicidad , Animales , Antibacterianos/antagonistas & inhibidores , Antibacterianos/toxicidad , Benzo(a)pireno/antagonistas & inhibidores , Benzo(a)pireno/toxicidad , Clorofila/toxicidad , Cromatografía en Capa Delgada , Daño del ADN/efectos de los fármacos , Daunorrubicina/antagonistas & inhibidores , Daunorrubicina/toxicidad , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Flores/química , Pruebas de Mutagenicidad , Mutación/efectos de los fármacos , Mutación/genética , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/toxicidad , Ratas , Triterpenos/toxicidad