RESUMO
Coutarea hexandra is a species commonly known in Brazil as quina, and its bark is used in folk medicine. In this study, we assess the mutagenic and DNA-damaging effects of ethanol extracts from C. hexandra stem bark (SCH) and leaves (LCH) by employing the Ames test on the TA98 and TA100 strains of Salmonella typhimurium in addition to a plasmid treatment test. Furthermore, we performed a phytochemical analysis by TLC and HPLC, a quantification of the phenolic constituents and an assessment of the antioxidative activity. SCH and LCH showed mutagenic action in the Ames test for TA98 strains after metabolic activation. LCH also showed mutagenicity for the TA100 strain after metabolic activation. The findings from the plasmid treatment test did not indicate any DNA-damaging activity for either of the extracts with the tested dosages. SCH showed greater flavonoid content and greater antioxidative potential in relation to LCH. This study suggests that caution is advisable in the use of this plant. However, in vivo studies should be conducted to confirm these data.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/toxicidade , Dano ao DNA , Mutagênicos/toxicidade , Extratos Vegetais/toxicidade , Plasmídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Rubiaceae , Salmonella typhimurium/efeitos dos fármacos , Antioxidantes/química , Antioxidantes/isolamento & purificação , Compostos de Bifenilo/química , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Cromatografia em Camada Fina , Etanol/química , Flavonoides/análise , Flavonoides/toxicidade , Testes de Mutagenicidade , Mutagênicos/química , Mutagênicos/isolamento & purificação , Picratos/química , Casca de Planta , Extratos Vegetais/química , Extratos Vegetais/isolamento & purificação , Folhas de Planta , Plantas Medicinais , Proantocianidinas/análise , Proantocianidinas/toxicidade , Medição de Risco , Rubiaceae/química , Salmonella typhimurium/genética , Solventes/químicaRESUMO
The widespread use of medicinal plants among the Brazilian population warrants an assessment of the potential risks associated with their intake. Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) is one of the most frequently used medicinal plants in Brazil, and the risks associated with its use have yet to be investigated. This study evaluated the genotoxic safety of the use of the proanthocyanidin polymer-rich fraction (F2) of stem bark of S. adstringens. The micronucleus test with 750, 1500, and 2250 mg kg(-1) of F2 administered in Mus musculus (Swiss) outbred mice, showed respectively, 5.0±0.8 (Mean±S.D.), 9.1±1.7, and 10.6±1.9 micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE). A positive control with cyclophosphamide resulted in 21.0±3.8 MNPCE. Antimutagenicity was also evaluated, by adding 750 mg kg(-1) to cyclophosphamide; the result of 8.7±1.4 showed a protective cytotoxic effect. For the Artemia salina test, 10, 100, and 1000 mg L(-1) of F2 showed, respectively, 8.7±0.6, 7.7±0.6, and 5.7±1.2 survival, i.e., F2 did not inhibit 50% of the population when compared to the control (9.7±0.6). These results indicated that F2 obtained from stem bark of S. adstringens has no genotoxic activity.