Antigenotoxicity, Cytotoxicity, and Apoptosis Induction by Apigenin, Bisabolol, and Protocatechuic Acid

Abstract

Medicinal plants represent an important resource in new drug research. Antioxidant properties of plants can help to scavenge reactive oxygen species. The objective of this work was to evaluate the genotoxic, antigenotoxic, tumoricidal, and apoptotic effect of some major phenols (apigenin, bisabolol, and protocatechuic acid) from two medicinal plants, Matricaria chamomilla and Uncaria tomentosa. The wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster was used to evaluate the genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity of the three phenols. The human model of HL-60 leukemia cells was used for the assessment of the cytotoxic effect, growth, and cellular viability. The apoptotic effect was evaluated using a DNA fragmentation assay based on the formation of internucleosomal units. Protocatechuic acid (0.25 and 1 mM), apigenin (0.46 and 1.85 mM), and bisabolol (0.56 and 2.24 mM) did not exhibit any genotoxic effect. The three phenols showed an antigenotoxic effect against the hydrogen peroxide effect and also exhibited tumoricidal activity. Apigenin (2.24-35.96 mM) showed a lower 50% inhibitory concentration (0.75 and 3.87 mM for the trypan blue test and WST-8 colorimetric assay, respectively) than bisabolol and protocatechuic acid. These phenolics also induced apoptosis in HL-60 leukemia cells. This study suggests that the antioxidant activity of Chamomilla and Uncaria could be partially responsible of their beneficial activity.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of zingiberene on different neuron cell lines in vitro

“…Similar to our finding it was suggested that beta-caryophyllene by itself did not produce any cytotoxic and genotoxic effect, as shown by the value of the nuclear division index (NDI) and the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in human lymphocytes cultures (Di Sotto et al 2010). Likewise, Anter et al (2011) reported that apigenin, bisabolol, and protocatechuic acid did not exhibit any genotoxic effect in DNA fragmentation assay. Additionally, it was found that gossypol significantly depressed the mitotic index but did not alter chromosome numbers or increase the frequency of chromosomal structural abnormalities.…”

Evaluation of the Safety of Three Phenolic Compounds from <i>Dipteryx alata</i> Vogel with Antiophidian Potential

“…According to Shaughnessy et al [60], VN is a dietary antimutagen that reduces the spontaneous mutant frequency in S. typhimurium strain TA104 (hisG428, rfa, uvrB, pKM101) by 50%, when added to assay plates. Taken together our results, which are also corroborated with data from literature, these phytochemicals are not mutagenic, and they act as antimutagens according to other studies [39] [41] [42] [57] [59]. These results should stimulate new research in order to provide medicines using these safe molecules and nanotechnology to treat …”

“…According to Anter et al [42], PCA did not exhibit any genotoxic effect. However, it has an antigenotoxic property against the hydrogen-peroxide effects, exhibiting tumoricidal activity, and apoptosis-induction in HL-60 leukemic cells.…”

Antimicrobial activity, total phenolic content and flavonoid concentrations of Teucrium species

“…Main secondary metabolites in plants are terpenes, phenolics and nitrogen-containing compounds. Secondary metabolites have important biological and pharmacological activities, such as antibiotic, antioxidative, anti-allergic, hypoglycemic, and anticarcinogenic properties [1,2].…”