In vitro cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity assessment of Solanum lycocarpum hydroalcoholic extract

Health Benefits of the Alkaloids from Lobeira (Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill): A Comprehensive Review

Solanum is the largest genus within the Solanaceae family and has garnered considerable attention in chemical and biological investigations over the past 30 years. In this context, lobeira or "fruta-do-lobo" (Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill), a species predominantly found in the Brazilian Cerrado, stands out. Beyond the interesting nutritional composition of the fruits, various parts of the lobeira plant have been used in folk medicine as hypoglycemic, sedative, diuretic, antiepileptic, and antispasmodic agents. These health-beneficial effects have been correlated with various bioactive compounds found in the plant, particularly alkaloids. In this review, we summarize the alkaloid composition of the lobeira plant and its biological activities that have been reported in the scientific literature in the last decades. The compiled data showed that lobeira plants and fruits contain a wide range of alkaloids, with steroidal glycoalkaloid solamargine and solasonine being the major ones. These alkaloids, but not limited to them, contribute to different biological activities verified in alkaloid-rich extracts/fractions from the lobeira, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antigenotoxic, antidiabetic, antinociceptive, and antiparasitic effects. Despite the encouraging results, additional research, especially toxicological, pre-clinical, and clinical trials, is essential to validate these human health benefits and ensure consumers' safety and well-being.

Artemisia vulgaris L., Artemisia alba Turra and their constituents reduce mitomycin C-induced genomic instability in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous and acetone extracts from Artemisia vulgaris L. (AV) and Artemisia alba Turra (AA), and two major polyphenols compounds (3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside) presented in both extracts of the plants against mitomycin C (MMC)-induced genomic instability. Genomic instability was measured using cytokinesis block micronucleus (MN) assay in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in vitro by analyzing two biomarkers - MN and nuclear division index (NDI). Extracts were tested in a concentration-dependent manner (10-250 µg/mL), while 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside were tested in three different concentrations, in combination with 0.5 µg/mL of MMC. Aqueous and acetone extracts obtained from both plants significantly reduced MMC-induced MN frequency in PBLs, compared to positive control cells (p < 0.05). Extracts from AV did not affect NDI, whereas the concentrations of 10-100 μg/mL of aqueous and acetone AA extracts significantly elevated MMC-decreased NDI values in comparison to positive control cells (p < 0.05). Combined treatment of 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and MMC showed a significant reduction of MMC-induced MN frequency, while quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside increased MN frequency compared to positive control cells (p < 0.05). Both compounds decreased NDI values but only at the highest tested concentration of quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside it was of greater significance. In conclusion, all extracts from AV and AA and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid showed protective effect, whereby aqueous AA demonstrated the highest protective effect on MMC- induced genomic instability, while quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside showed co-mutagen effect.

Comparative study of the genotoxic activity of Artemisia vulgaris L. and Artemisia alba Turra extracts in vitro

In this study, the genotoxic activity of acetone and aqueous extracts of two species of genus Artemisia (Artemisia vulgaris L. and Artemisia alba Turra), and possible role of their polyphenolic composition in the observed activities were investigated. Polyphenolic contents were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-PDA), while the genotoxic activity was tested using cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assay on human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in vitro. HPLC-PDA showed that both A. alba extracts were richer in polyphenolic contents than A. vulgaris extracts. The acetone A. alba extract was the richest of polyphenolic content where we detected six phenolic acids and two flavonoids. CBMN assay showed that aqueous extract of A. vulgaris significantly increased micronucleus (MN) frequency in the PBLs treated with all tested concentrations (10, 50, 100, and 250 µg/mL), while A. alba did not significantly affect the mean MN frequency. Further, both acetone extracts were genotoxic in all tested concentrations, except the lowest tested (10 µg/mL) of A. alba. All tested extracts affected the nuclear division index (NDI) except the aqueous A. alba extract (p < 0.05). Based on our results, we can conclude that both acetone and aqueous A. vulgaris extracts and A. alba acetone extract were genotoxic in PBLs in vitro. A. alba aqueous extract was not genotoxic and cytotoxic in tested concentrations. We suggest that the aqueous extract of A. alba can be used in treatment, which has been confirmed by traditional medicine, but with a high dose of caution and not in high concentrations.

Cytogenotoxicity and protective effect of piperine and capsaicin on meristematic cells of Allium cepa L

Piperine and capsaicin are important molecules with biological and pharmacological activities. This study aimed to evaluate the cytogenotoxic and protective effect of piperine and capsaicin on Allium cepa cells. A. cepa roots were exposed to negative (2% Dimethylsulfoxide) and positive (Methylmethanesulfonate, MMS, 10 µg/mL) controls, and four concentrations (25-200 µM) of piperine or capsaicin (alone) or associated before, simultaneously or after with the MMS. Only the lowest concentration of piperine (25 µM) showed a protective effect because it was not genotoxic. Piperine and capsaicin were cytotoxic (50, 100 and 200 µM). Piperine (50 to 200 µM) caused a significant increase in the total average of chromosomal alterations of in A. cepa cells. For capsaicin, the genotoxic effect was dose-dependent with a significant increase for all concentrations, highlighting the significant presence of micronuclei and nuclear buds for the two isolates. In general, bioactive compounds reduced the total average of chromosomal alterations against damage caused by MMS, mainly micronuclei and/or nuclear buds. Therefore, the two molecules were cytotoxic and genotoxic at the highest concentrations, and did not have cytoprotective action, and the lowest concentration of piperine demonstrated important chemopreventive activity.

Genotoxic and cytotoxic properties of two medical plants (Teucrium arduini L.and Teucrium flavum L.) in relation to their polyphenolic contents

A large number of species belonging to the genus Teucrium are used in pharmacy and traditional medicine for the treatment of different diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the polyphenolic composition as well as genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of methanolic extracts from T. arduini and T. flavum, two native species found in Montenegro. We determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of these plants using spectrophotometric methods; the qualitative content of polyphenolic compounds was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Genotoxicity in cultured human lymphocytes was measured in the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) and comet assay in the range between 125 and 1000 μg/mL. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTT viability assay in normal human MRC-5 fibroblasts and MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells. The content of total phenolics and flavonoids in T. arduini extract was higher than in T. flavum (200.35 mg GA/g vs. 171.08 mg GA/g; 96.32 mg RU/g vs. 78.14 mg RU/g). The polyphenolic composition of both extracts was qualitatively similar and eight phenol compounds were identified. The most commonly present phenol was caffeic acid and among four flavonoids, the most common was quercetin. Both plant extracts were genotoxic in both the CBMN and comet assays at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 μg/mL. After 72 h of exposure, the extracts of T. arduini and T. flavum were found to induce cytotoxicity in MRC-5 fibroblasts but not in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The results suggest that the constituents of both plant species are genotoxic and cytotoxic, therefore these extracts warrant additional evaluation to be safely applied in humans.

Cytotoxicity and antigenotoxicity evaluation of acetylshikonin and shikonin

Shikonin (SH) is used as a red pigment for food coloring and cosmetics, and has cytotoxic activity towards cancer cells. However, due to strong toxicity SH has limited potential as an anticancer drug. Acetylshikonin (ASH) is one of the SH derivatives with promising anticancer potential. In present study, we attempted to evaluate and compare the cytotoxicity of SH and ASH towards a normal cell line (V79) and in addition to evaluate their antigenotoxic activity. The evaluation was made with the use of the set of cytotoxicity assays with V79 line and the micronucleus test in vitro performed using clinafloxacin (CLFX), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) as direct genotoxins and cyclophosphamide (CPA) as indirect genotoxin. For CPA and EMS the simultaneous protocol was used and for CLFX three different variants were performed: pretreatment, simultaneous, and post-treatment. A higher cytotoxic effect was observed for SH. The EC50 values obtained for SH were approximately twofold lower compared to that of ASH. Moreover, ASH exhibited an antigenotoxic potential against CPA-induced genotoxicity, whereas SH has no activity. However, ASH increased the EMS-induced genotoxicity, when SH exhibited no effect. Both compounds decreased the genotoxicity of CLFX in pretreatment and simultaneous protocol. Based on the results of the present study it can be concluded that ASH is less cytotoxic than SH to normal cells and has comparable antigenotoxic potential.