Study of genotoxic and antigenotoixc potential of Solanum cernuum extract in in vivo and in vitro mammalian cells

Abstract

The Solanaceae family is composed of a number of economically important plants, including several important food crops such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and pepper. It also includes ornamental crops such as petunia, in addition to cultures such as medical, ashwagandha, Datura, Mandragora, Atropa and Physalis. Solanaceae is a family of medium between the angiospernas, with about 90 genera and 3000-4000 species, of which almost half are in a large and diverse genus, Solanum. This great diversity in the genus Solanum makes it interesting from an evolutionary standpoint, as well as for their usefulness to humans. Among the potential medicinal plants Solanum, is S. cernuum Vell, Brazilian shrub or small tree, restricted to the southwestern states of Brazil. It has been widely used to treat many diseases, demonstrating the pharmacological activity of the extract on gastric ulcer. S. cernuun also has demonstrated antimicrobial activity may represent a promising source of bioactive compounds. Cycloeucalenone and 24-oxo-31-norcycloartanone were the major components of the dichloromethane extract of S. cernuum. Both triterpenoids were tested against human tumor cell lines, and the 24-oxo-31-norcycloartanone was significantly active and selective against the tumor cell line NCI-H460 lung. Extracts of Solanum species have been shown to have anticancer properties throughout the centuries around the world. Several active substances, including solamargine, solasodine and solasonine can suppress cancer growth, both in vitro and in vivo. Since induction of chromosomal mutations is involved in the carcinogenesis process, it becomes important to study the mutagenic and genotoxic potential of S. cernuun as well as its influence on the damage caused by known mutagenic compounds in mammalian cells in vivo and in vitro by micronucleus test and comet assay. In in vivo experiments will be analyzing the frequency of micronuclei and DNA damage in peripheral blood cells and liver of Swiss mice, respectively. For in vitro tests will be used fibroblasts Chinese hamster lung (V79). Due to the great importance of S. cernuun among the medicinal plants of the genus Solanum, becomes relevant study its action on the DNA so it can be used safely in human health. (AU)