Abstract
A typical Brazilian plant, araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.), is widely used in humans as therapeutic medicine to treat several diseases such as diarrhea, rheumatism and syphilis. It contains acetogenins which present cytotoxic, antitumogenic, and antiparasitic properties. In this study, mutagenic, antimutagenic and cytotoxic effects of araticum leaves ethanolic extract were evaluated by micronucleus test in mice. To evaluate the mutagenic activity, animals were treated with ethanolic extract of araticum (EEA) using 10, 20, 50, 100 and 160 mg.kg(-1). For all doses, micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) frequency was evaluated at 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. To evaluate the antimutagenic activity, animals were treated with 10, 20, 50 and 100 mg.kg(-1) of EEA and 4 mg.kg(-1) of MMC simultaneously. The frequency of MNPCE was evaluated 36 hours after exposure. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes ratio (PCE/NCE). In the mutagenicity assessment, all doses of EEA resulted in no significant increase of MNPCE (P > 0.05), compared to solvent- control group. Regarding administration time, no significant difference among three evaluation periods was observed (P > 0.05). Such results indicate that EEA did not exert mutagenic activity. Cytotoxicity was evident in doses of 50, 100 and 160 mg.kg(-1) at 24 and 48 hours after exposure. Concerning antimutagenicity, except the 10 mg.kg(-1) co-administered with 4 mg/kg of MMC, all doses reduced significantly the frequency of MNPCE compared to the positive control group (P < 0.05). These results, therefore, indicate an antimutagenic activity of the EEA. Cytotoxicity was significantly increased (P < 0.01) at 100 mg.kg(-1) EEA doses co-administered with 4 mg.kg(-1) of MMC.
Highlights
Since ancient times, plants have always been used as a common source of medicines for their prophylactic effects and for the treatment of illnesses and diseases
Due to the wide biological activities presented by this plant as well as the widespread use in folk medicine by Brazilian people, at the present study we have evaluated the mutagenic, antimutagenic and cytotoxic activities of Araticum’s ethanolic extract by mouse bone marrow micronuclues test (Heddle, 1973)
For all tested doses (Table 1) (10, 20, 50, 100 and 160 mg.kg–1) in different times of evaluation (24, 48 and 72 hours) and negative control group, the results did not present a significant increase of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) frequency compared to the solvent-control group
Summary
Plants have always been used as a common source of medicines for their prophylactic effects and for the treatment of illnesses and diseases. Plants are known to contain innumerable biologically active compounds and while they may have pharmacological properties, they may cause damage, including damage to DNA (Alade and Irobi, 1993; Marques et al, 2003). In this way, the investigation of traditionally used medicinal plants is valuable on two levels: firstly, as a source of potential chemotherapeutic drugs, and secondly, as a measure of safety for the continued use of medicinal plants (Verschaeve et al, 2004)
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