Study of cytotoxic, genotoxic and antioxidant activities of Styrax camporum hydroalcoholic extract and chemical markers, egonol and homoegonol, and their influence on genetic material damage and pre-neoplastic lesions.

Abstract

The Styracaceae family is popularly known due to the production of balsamic resins with bacteriostatic and fungicidal properties called for "benjoin," in which the benzoic acid is the main constituent. This resin is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of respiratory disorders. The genus Styrax is the most important representative of Styracaceae family because it has about 130 species and a wealth of information. This genus differs from other genera of the family by producing a resinous material secreted from injuries caused by the stem. Different classes of special metabolites as lignans, neolignans, benzofuran norlignans and triterpenes constituents were found as prevalent in the genus. The Styrax camporum Poh is popularly known as "benjoeiro", "estoraque-do-campo" and "cuia-do-brejo". An adult plant can reach a height from 60 to 10 meters and trunk diameter from 30 to 40 inches. In Brazil, it occurs in the Cerrado of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and in semi-deciduous forest of the Paraná Basin. The ethnopharmacology reports the use of S. camporum to treat stomach problems. Phytochemical studies have shown egonol and homoegonol benzofurans lignans as chemical markers of the genus Styrax. Some important biological activities have been described in the literature for these compounds, such as antiproliferative, antibacterial, antifungal and immunomodulatory activities. Since the biological activities displayed by the extract and the egonol and homoegonol compounds its may have important clinical applications, it is important to evaluate its effect on genetic material, as well as its influence on genomic and chromosomal lesions induced by different mutagens. In this sense, the aim of the study will be evaluate the possible cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity activities of the S. camporum hydroalcoholic stems extract and its chemical markers, egonol and homoegonol, as well to evaluate its modulating effect of DNA damage induced by mutagens with different mechanisms of action. Additionally, this study aims to carry out a series of measurements of products of oxidative stress in order to better understand the effect of the extract and its chemical markers in the body. For these evaluations, systems-test in vivo and in vitro will be used.