Genotoxic potential of leaf extracts of Jatropha gossypiifolia L.

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Jatropha gossypiifolia L. (Euphorbiaceae) is widely used in popular medicine. However, further toxicological studies are necessary for its reliable use. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects of ethanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of J. gossypiifolia, using the test system Allium cepa. In addition, the phytochemical profile of the extracts was also obtained. Seeds of A. cepa were subjected to different concentrations of the two extracts (0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL). Distilled water was used for the negative control and methyl methanesulfonate (4 x 10 -4 M) and trifluralin (0.84 ppm) for the positive controls. The values of mitotic index at all concentrations of ethanolic extract and at 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/mL aqueous extract showed a significant decrease. Alterations, such as chromosome adherence, C-metaphases, chromosome bridges, nuclear buds, and micronuclei were verified in both extracts but chromosome loss indicating genotoxic activity was observed only in the ethanolic extract. Presence of micronuclei on administration of the extracts, also indicated mutagenic action at the chromosome level. In the ethanolic extract, aneugenicity seemed to be the main activity, probably as a result of the action of terpenes and/or flavonoids, whereas in the aqueous extract, clastogenic action appeared to be the principal activity, presumably as a consequence of the effect of flavonoids and/or saponins. Thus, we suggest that the extracts of this species should be used with great caution for medicinal purpose.

Chemical Composition and Biological Properties of Two Jatropha Species: Different Parts and Different Extraction Methods

“…Specifically, the shrimp were exposed to scalar concentrations (0.1–20 mg/mL) of the extracts and the resulting LC 50 values < 1 mg/mL indicate a high degree of toxicity in the nauplii. Although toxicological studies are still lacking for both Jatropha species, we cannot exclude that this intrinsic toxicity of the extracts could be related, at least in part, to the presence of terpenes, such as curcusones, but also flavonoids and saponins that could induce genotoxicity [ 41 , 42 ]. Considering the LC 50 values yielded by the brine shrimp test, extract concentrations at least 10-fold lower (100 µg/mL) were chosen for the subsequent pharmacological tests [ 43 ].…”

<b>Larvicidal, cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of aqueous leaf extract of <i>Jatropha mollissima</i> (Pohl) Baill

“…After hydrolysis, the root tips were again washed in distilled water and transferred to amber glass bottles containing Schiff's reagent, in which they were kept for 2 hours in the dark. Next, the root tips were washed until complete removal of the reagent, transferred onto slides, squashed with one drop of 2% acetic carmine, and mounted with Entellan ® (Almeida et al, 2016).…”

Mangifera indica L.: Assessing the cytogenotoxicity of aqueous extract through micronucleus and comet assays

“…The phytochemical analysis carried out in the current research detected the presence of reducing sugars, saponins, and tannins. Other authors have already reported the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of saponins and tannins (ALMEIDA et al, 2016;BUYUKLEYLA et al, 2012;LABIENIEC and GABRYELAK, 2003;LIU et al, 2011) and detected saponins and tannins in M. indica leaf extracts (CHIRAYATHL et al 2019;VILLAS BOAS et al, 2019;YAKUBU and SALIMON, 2015) Abiotic and biotic factors influence the biosynthesis and accumulation of saponins and tannins, as well as of other metabolites (PAVARINI et al, 2012); changes in their concentration can alter the biological effect of a metabolite. Labieniec and Gabryelak (2003) reported that components such as tannins can behave as antioxidants or pro-oxidants, depending on their concentration.…”