Antigenotoxic, and anticytotoxic activities of an ethanolic extract of Lafoensia pacari (Lythraceae) stem bark in bacteria and mice

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Lafoensia pacari (Lythraceae), popularly known in Brazil as "pacari", is a small tree native to the Cerrado that is used in folk medicine to treat cancer and as an anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing agent. We evaluated the genotoxic, cytotoxic, antigenotoxic, and anticytotoxic activities of an ethanol extract of L. pacari stem bark (EESB) using the Ames test and the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. In the Ames test, EESB did not significantly increase the number of His + revertants in Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98 and TA100 at all doses, demonstrating lack of mutagenicity. Only the highest dose of EESB significantly increased the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte frequency in the micronucleus test, indicating mild genotoxicity. EESB produced a mutagenic index lower than the negative control in the Ames test. In the micronucleus test, at all doses, EESB caused a significant decrease in the polychromatic/normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (PCE/NCE) at 24 h compared with the negative control. EESB co-administered together with the respective positive control caused a significant decrease in the number of His + revertant colonies in the Ames test and in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the micronucleus test, demonstrating a DNA protector effect. EESB co-administered with mitomycin C significantly increased the PCE/NCE ratio at all doses, showing an anticytotoxic effect. We conclude that EESB has antigenotoxic and anticytotoxic properties.

Toxicological evaluation of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. (Lythraceae) stem bark extract: Acute and subchronic studies in mice

“…In terms of the hematological analysis, animals treated with 100, 400 and 1000 mg/kg of LPE showed a significant increase in reticulocytes, which demonstrates a possible proliferative effect on blood cells. In another study, Lima et al (2013) presented the antigenotoxic and anticytotoxic activities of LPE on reticulocytes obtained from mouse bone marrow through the micronucleus assay. Corroborating these findings, Grossi et al (2014) also showed that ellagic acid did not reveal any negative effect on the bone marrow hematopoietic cells.…”

Ethnopharmacology of the angiosperms of Chapada of Araripe located in Northeast of Brazil

“…Finally, the antineoplastic effect of L. pacari was seen in human and murine lung cancer cells (Cordeiro et al, 2019). Lima et al (2013), through the Ames test and the bone marrow micronucleus test in mice, discovered antigenotoxic and anticytotoxic properties of this plant. Although promising, further studies are needed to elucidate these species' anti-tumor activity; it is also necessary to investigate toxic adverse effects on human organisms to ensure safe use without risk to human health.…”

Cytotoxicity and apoptogenic effects of Lafoensia pacari

“…Although it has been recently reported that an ethanolic extract prepared from its stem barks is not mutagenic according to the in vitro Ames assay, and genotoxicity could be achieved only at high doses using the in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test (Lima et al, 2013), studies concerning to Lafoensia pacari cancer-related uses are lacking. As such and aiming to clarify and support the anticancer popular usage of Lafoensia pacari, we have conducted an in vitro study using several tumor cell lines.…”