Phytochemical Composition and Potential Genotoxic effects of Important Egyptian Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Introduction: We performed a phytochemical analysis and investigated the potential genotoxic properties of ten different methanol extracts of plants that are frequently used in Egypt for medicinal purposes. Such studies are important because these plants were never thoroughly investigated with respect to their possible potential sideeffects and risks for humans. Materials and Methods: In this study we used the bacterial Vitotox test and alkaline comet assay in human C3A cells to estimate their genotoxic potential. The Vitotox test is an interesting screening test which correlates very well with the well-known Ames assay but has the advantage of being rapid, sensitive and requiring only small amounts of a test compound. The test was conducted in the presence and absence of a metabolizing S9-enzyme fraction. The comet assay is now a widely used and validated genotoxicity test which can be applied in all DNA-containing cells. In this study it was conducted in human C3A cells which conserved phase I and II biotransformation capabilities. The in vitro NRU assay was used to investigate toxicity and utilized as a dose-finding test. Results: None of the plants have shown genotoxic properties although one of them, Derris rubusta, showed borderline genotoxicity in both tests. This plant also contains alkaloids and coumarins, besides flavonoids, carbohydrates, tannins and triterpenes that were also found in the other plants. Conclusion: So far all 10 investigated medicinal plants appeared not genotoxic but due to borderline effects, Derris robusta deserves further complementary investigations.

Antimutagenic constituents fromMonanthotaxis caffra(Sond.) Verdc.

“…The neutral red uptake (NRU) assay is a cytotoxicity assay that measures the neutral red dye uptake by the lysosomes. [19] The assay was performed on C3A cells as described by Rashed et al [20] After 24 h exposure of cells to six different concentrations of plant extracts, the cells were washed and treated with neutral red dye for 3 h at 37°C. Thereafter, the intracellular bound dye was extracted from the cells and the optical density at 540 nm was measured.…”

The Antibacterial Activity of the Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Ficus Vasta Forssk. (Moraceae) Against Aeromonas Spp. Strains

“…Also, qualitative preliminary phytochemical analysis of F. vasta leaves, undertaken by Rashed with coauthors (2015), revealed the presence of carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, and triterpenes [22]. Moreover, various phytoconstituents such as β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol, ursolic acid, and some flavonoids were isolated and identified from F. vasta aerial parts [23].…”

“…The leaves of F. vasta are traditionally used for the treatment of rheumatisms, pains and intestinal worms [22].…”

Genotoxic Assessment of the Dry Decoction of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (Anacardiaceae) Leaves in Somatic Cells of Drosophila melanogaster by the Comet and SMART Assays

“…However, many medicinal plants and THPs have been identified as genotoxic and mutagenic. For that reason, it is imperative to investigate the potentially toxic‐genetics effects of plants used in traditional medicine (EMA ; Rashed et al ; Sponchiado et al ). According to Klapacz and Gollapudi (), the genotoxicity refers to deleterious effects to genetic material that cover both transmissible outcomes and endpoints that themselves are not transmissible.…”