Toxicogenetic study of Asiatic acid and its influence on genomic instability

Abstract

The use of natural products is an intrinsic practice to human culture. Since ancient times, different civilizations have used many features that are found in several organisms, mainly in plants. Currently, the special metabolites are a promising source for the development of new potential therapeutic agents, which arouses a great interest in the search area of natural products. Among the special metabolites of great scientific value, there is the asiatic acid (AA), a triterpene that is found in a specific species native to Asia, the Centella asiatica L. This herb is widely used in many medical practices in the East. The AA has several biological activities, being described as an antioxidant, antitumor, neuroprotective, among others. In this way, it is important to evaluate the genetic toxicity potential and its influence on the genotoxicity induced by mutagens with different mechanism of action as doxorubicin, hydrogen peroxide, etoposide and methyl methanesulfonate. Therefore, the micronucleus test in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79 cells) will be used as a test system. The results will contribute to a better understanding of the action of this triterpene in the human body. (AU)