Chemical and biological characterisation ofMachaerium hirtum(Vell.) Stellfeld: absence of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity and possible chemopreventive potential

Abstract

Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld (M.hirtum) is a plant known as 'jacarandá-bico-de-pato' whose bark is commonly used against diarrhea, cough and cancer. The aim of this study was to phytochemically characterise the hydroethanolic extract of this plant, investigate its antimutagenic activities using the Ames test and evaluate its effects on cell viability, genomic instability, gene expression and cell protection in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). Antimutagenic activity was assessed by simultaneous pre- and post-treatment with direct and indirect mutagens, such as 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD), mitomycin C (MMC), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), using the Ames test, cytokinesis blocking micronucleus and apoptosis assays. Only 3 of the 10 concentrations evaluated in the MTT assay were cytotoxic in HepG2 cells. Micronucleated or apoptotic cells were not observed with any of the tested concentrations, and there were no mutagenic effects in the bacterial system. However, the Nuclear Division Index and flow cytometry data showed a decrease in cell proliferation. The extract showed an inhibitory effect against direct (NPD) and indirect mutagens (B[a]P and AFB1). Furthermore, pre- and post-treated cells showed significant reduction in the number of apoptotic and micronucleated cells. This effect is not likely to be associated with the modulation of antioxidant genes, as shown by the RT-qPCR results. Six known flavonoids were identified in the hydroethanolic extract of Machaerium hirtum leaves, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrophotometric methods. The presence of the antioxidants apigenin and luteolin may explain these protective effects, because these components can inhibit the formation of reactive species and prevent apoptosis and DNA damage. In conclusion, the M.hirtum extract showed chemopreventive potential and was not hazardous at the tested concentrations in the experiments presented here. Moreover, this extract should be investigated further as a chemopreventive agent.

LDH, proliferation curves and cell cycle analysis are the most suitable assays to identify and characterize new phytotherapeutic compounds

“…The technique was performed as described by Serpeloni et al (2015) and Ribeiro et al (2016). The results are expressed as the percentage of viable cells concerning the negative control group (PBS), which was considered to represent 100 % viability.…”

Phytotoxic Potential of the Crude Extract and Leaf Fractions of Machaerium hirtum on the Initial Growth of Euphorbia heterophylla And Ipomoea grandifolia

“…Many chemical constituents were identified in the genus Machaerium, with the presence of several classes of compounds such as steroids, alkaloids, benzoquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, among others (El-Sohly et al, 1999;Muhammad et al, 2001;Ignoato et al, 2012;Ribeiro et al, 2015). The plant material used in our study was chemically studied and reported by Ignoato et al (2012) and Ribeiro et al (2015).…”

“…3 Phytochemical studies and previous biological assessments performed by Ignoato et al (2012) showed that chemical compounds produced by Machaerium hirtum have anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties (Ribeiro et al, 2015), but the presence of allelopathic and phytotoxic activity has not been studied to date. Thus, this study proposes to assess the phytotoxic potential of crude extract and leaf fractions of M. hirtum on the initial seedling growth of the invasive species wild poinsettia and morning glory, as well as the occurrence of morphoanatomical changes.…”

“…In the tests with FHm, wild poinsettia and morning glory seedlings had root elongation inhibited so that root growth was more sensitive when compared to shoot elongation. The leaf hydroalcoholic extract of M. hirtum is rich in glycosylated flavonoids (Ribeiro et al, 2015), which are polar compounds produced by plants and found in alcoholic fractions. In contrast, lipophilic flavonoids are found in nonpolar fractions, such as the chloroformic fraction (Harborne, 1989), and FH, as reported by Ignoato et al (2012).…”

Óleo Essencial De Copaíba (Copaifera Langsdorffii Desf.) No Tratamento De Mastite Bovina

“…Espécies pertencentes a este gênero produzem principalmente flavonóides (SEO et al, 2001;DONELLY, 1982;IMAMURA et al, 1982;KUROSAWA et al, 1978;OLLIS et al, 1978;OLIVEIRA et al, 1968;OLLIS et al, 1968;BENTO et al, 2018;RIBEIRO et al, 2016). O material foi seco em estufa a 40 ºC e moídos em moinho de facas com um tamanho médio de partícula de 1 a 3 mm.…”