Lack of clastogenic/genotoxic effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia extract on Swiss mouse peripheral blood cells

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Baccharis dracunculifolia De Candole (DC) (Asteraceae) is indigenous throughout southeastern Latin America and is used by local people in traditional medicine. This plant is known to be the source of resin for the highly valued Brazilian green propolis. As no information is available on the safety of high doses of B. dracunculifolia extract, we evaluated the mutagenic potential of high doses of this plant extract in vivo on peripheral blood cells of Swiss mice using the comet assay and the micronucleus test. The extract was administered by gavage at doses of 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg body weight. Peripheral blood cell samples were collected 4 and 24 h after treatment for the comet assay (genotoxicity assay), and at 48 and 72 h for the micronucleus test (clastogenicity assay). The B. dracunculifolia extract was devoid of clastogenic/genotoxic activity at all doses.

Antigenotoxicity of artepillin C in vivo evaluated by the micronucleus and comet assays

“…In the present study, the results obtained by MNRETs and DNA damage analyses in Swiss mice cells treated with different doses of artepillin C showed the absence of genotoxicity. Andrade et al (2008) observed that the administration of high single doses of B. dracunculifolia ethanolic extract did not induce any genotoxic response in blood cells of Swiss mice, which corroborates our findings. On the other hand, the groups treated with artepillin C plus DXR (micronucleus test) or MMS (comet assay) showed statistically significant reductions in MNRETs and DNA damage frequencies, when compared with those treated only with mutagens, demonstrating the antigenotoxic activity of artepillin C. It is important to point out that the doses tested of the artepillin C were established based on the corresponding concentration of this compound (about 6%) in Brazilian green propolis, which was previously assayed in rat bone marrow .…”

“…In the present study, the results obtained by MNRETs and DNA damage analyses in Swiss mice cells treated with different doses of artepillin C showed the absence of genotoxicity. Andrade et al () observed that the administration of high single doses of B . dracunculifolia ethanolic extract did not induce any genotoxic response in blood cells of Swiss mice, which corroborates our findings.…”

Stabilized rice bran extract: Acute and 28-day repeated dose oral toxicity with in vitro mutagenicity and genotoxicity study

“…This damage can also be repaired (Schwaab et al, 2005). On the other hand, the loss of chromosomal fragments during the division (clastogenic effects) (Andrade et al, 2008) or whole chromosomes (aneugenic effects), is not detected by the comet assay. In this respect we performed cytogenetic test to better understand the genotoxic behaviour of rice bran extract.…”

Boswellic acid suppresses cyclophosphamide induced chromosomal damage in mice

“…While many herbal products are benign in nature, some of these compounds have potentially harmful side effects, recent examples include ephedra use linked to cardiovascular problems (Andraws et al 2005), the relationship between kava-kava consumption and hepatotoxicity (Ernst 2002) and use of Phyllanthus orbicularis extract and genotoxicity as well as cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster ovary cells (Sánchez-Lamar et al 2002). This has led to an increased concern for the possible threat to human health posed by exposure to phytochemicals and other chemicals (Andrade et al 2008).…”