Abstract
Solanum lycocarpum St.-Hil popularly known as ‘fruta-de-lobo’ or ‘lobeira’ is native to the Brazilian Cerrado, and used in folk medicine due to its phytotherapic properties. The action of S. lycocarpum on the cell cycle and chromosomes in order to demonstrate whether there are aneugenic and/or clastogenic effects is unknown. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of methanol and hexane extracts of S. lycocarpum on growth and cell cycle of Lactuca sativa and Allium cepa . Roots from both species were exposed for 72 hours to methanol and hexane extracts with 50, 100, and 200 µg mL -1 of S. lycocarpum . Slides were prepared by the squash technique and then analyzed to determine the mitotic index and the total of chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities. The frequencies of chromosomal and nuclear abnormalities were high and significant with a dose-dependent effect, indicating that S. lycocarpum has a cytotoxic and genotoxic action depending on the dose used on meristem cells of A. cepa and L. sativa .
Highlights
In Brazil, it is a common practice to use teas, infusions, and plasters with raw plants for the treatment of pathologies (Bighetti, Antonio, Foglio, & Posseni, 2005)
Plant extracts may be effective in the treatment of several diseases, but some plant compounds have a toxic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic potential (Ferreira & Vargas, 1999, Akinboro & Bakare, 2007)
Unripe fruits (498.20 g) of S. lycocarpum were collected in São Sebastião do Oeste (20° 14' 38.96" S, 45° 2' 14.38" W), Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in August, 2013
Summary
In Brazil, it is a common practice to use teas, infusions, and plasters with raw plants for the treatment of pathologies (Bighetti, Antonio, Foglio, & Posseni, 2005). Plant extracts may be effective in the treatment of several diseases, but some plant compounds have a toxic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic potential (Ferreira & Vargas, 1999, Akinboro & Bakare, 2007). There is no knowledge on the cumulative effect of these plants on organisms. There is a great concern in studying the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of species with. Biological Sciences medicinal potential, which may induce genetic damages and cause several health problems. In order to assure the quality of medicines, many bioassays for genotoxicity and mutagenicity have been conducted (Sousa & Viccini, 2011)
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