Solanum paniculatum L. Leaf and Fruit Extracts: Assessment of Modulation of Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity by Micronucleus Test in Mice

Abstract

Solanum paniculatum L. is a plant species widespread throughout tropical America, especially in the Brazilian Savanna region. It is used in Brazil for culinary purposes and in folk medicine to treat liver and gastric dysfunctions, as well as hangovers. Previous studies with S. paniculatum ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) or ethanolic fruit extract (EFE) demonstrated that they have no genotoxic activity meant either in the micronucleus test in mice or in the phage induction SOS Inductest in bacterial strains; however, cytotoxicity was demonstrated in both tests. Because of the spread use of this plant as a therapeutic resource and food, the present study aimed at evaluating the modulator effects of S. paniculatum ELE or EFE against mitomycin C (MMC) using the mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. This short-term test was used to detect the acute effects of responsive erythropoiesis after 24- and 48-hour exposure periods. Swiss-Webster mice were orally treated with three different concentrations (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg) of ELE or EFE simultaneously with a single dose of MMC (4 mg/kg i.p.). Antigenotoxicity was evaluated using the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs), whereas anticytotoxicity was assessed by the polychromatic/normochromatic erythrocyte ratio. Our results demonstrated that neither the ELE nor EFE of S. paniculatum protected cells against the cytotoxic action of MMC. Nevertheless, the present study showed the antimutagenic effect of ELE after a 24-hour treatment (reduction in the frequencies of MNPCEs after a 48-hour treatment with ELE can be due to toxicity) and no antimutagenic action of the EFE treatment against the aneugenic and/or clastogenic activities of MMC.

Protective effects of steroidal alkaloids isolated from Solanum paniculatum L. against mitomycin cytotoxic and genotoxic actions

“…Additionally, the antigenotoxicity was demonstrated only in the ethanolic leaf extract (Vieira et al 2010b). Although previous studies with S. paniculatum extracts indicated that many compounds may well act synergistically, our data suggested that the antigenotoxicity exhibited by this plant could be related to an overall effect of the alkaloid compounds, since they are the major constituents of this species leaf extract and present antioxidant effect.…”

African Nightshade (Solanum scabrum Mill.): Impact of Cultivation and Plant Processing on Its Health Promoting Potential as Determined in a Human Liver Cell Model

“…The cancer preventive potential in terms of protection from DNA damage and oxidative stress of Solanum species has previously been studied but not much information has been available for the leaves. Anti-mutagenicity as determined by the micronucleus test in mice bone marrow was shown by ethanolic fruit extracts from S. lycocarpum [ 16 ] and ethanolic leaf extracts from S. paniculatum L. [ 17 ]. Aqueous leaf extract of S. nigrum have been shown to suppress mitochondrial function and epithelial mesenchymal transition in MCF-7 breast cancer cells [ 18 ] and to cause >50% cytotoxicity in human A-375 melanoma cells [ 19 ].…”