Mutagenicity, genotoxicity, and scavenging activities of extracts from the soft coral Chromonephthea braziliensis: a possibility of new bioactive compounds

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Coral reefs are diverse ecosystems that have a high density of biodiversity leading to intense competition among species. These species may produce unknown substances, many with pharmacological value. Chromonephthea braziliensis is an invasive soft coral from the Indo-Pacific Ocean that is possibly transported by oil platforms and whose presence can be a threat to a region's biodiversity. This species produces secondary metabolites that are responsible for inducing damage to the local ecosystem. In the present study, extracts were prepared from dried colonies of C. braziliensis (solvents: hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol). We evaluated their mutagenicity using the Salmonella reverse mutation assay (TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA102 strains), their genotoxicity using the DNA breakage analysis and micronucleus assay, and scavenging activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-free radical assay. Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity were not observed for any of the extracts. Genotoxicity was observed for the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts at high concentrations, but no DNA damage was observed in the micronucleus assay. Scavenging activity was not detected.

Chemical and biological aspects of octocorals from the Brazilian coast

“…Recent investigations show that extracts of C. braziliensis are genotoxic when evaluated by micronucleus formation and DNA breakage (Carpes et al, 2013). From Chromonephthea sp.…”

Mutagenic, genotoxic and cytotoxic studies of invasive corals Tubastraea coccinea and Tubastraea tagusensis

“…The mutagenicity, genotoxicity and antioxidant activities have also been studied in the invasive alcyonacean coral Chromonephthea braziliensis extracts, providing an understanding of the action of its secondary metabolites. This is not a hard coral and is a flexible (soft) corals and is an interesting source of pharmacological compounds (Carpes et al, ). Chemical defenses have also been observed in this invasive coral (Fleury, Lages, Barbosa, Kaiser, & Pinto, ; Lages, Fleury, Ferreira, & Pereira, ).…”

Toxicological assessment of crude palm oil (<em>Elaeis</em> guineensis Jacq.) used in deep frying of akara (cowpea paste finger food)

“…The data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and the Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test. Results were considered to be statistically significant at p<0.05 (Aiub et al, 2011, Carpes et al, 2013. GraphPad Instat® software, version 3.01 (GraphPad Software, Inc., USA) was used for all analyses.…”

“…Besides that, the Ames test (Salmonella/microsome assay) is a rapid, safe and predictive test for mutagenicity in mammals (Claxton et al, 1987;Maron and Ames, 1983;Carpes et al, 2013), in which Hageman et al (1988) have detected mutagenic activity in polar material obtained from deep-frying fats.…”

“…The Ames test is a widely used methodology to detect mutagenic chemicals (Claxton et al, 1987;Maron and Ames, 1983;Carpes et al, 2013), however, bacteria is less able to repair DNA damage than a mammals ability. A macrophage lineage is used due to its ability to promote responses involving oxidative stress.…”