Estudo do potencial clastogênico e genotóxico do extrato de Piper cubeba em células de roedores in vivo

Abstract

Piper cubeba widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world is used medicinally in various manners without genetic toxicity evaluation In this study we investigated the clastogenic and genotoxic potential of the crude extract of the fruits of P cubeba in rodents cells using the micronucleus and single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) test systems The animals were treated by gavage with 3 concentrations of the extract 25 50 and 75 per cent of the LD50 (2 g/kg) From Swiss mice peripheral blood was collected at 24 h after the treatment for SCGE assay and at 48 and 72 h for micronucleus test when the animals were sacrificed From Wistar rats peripheral blood and hepatic cells were collected for SCGE assay and bone marrow cells for micronucleus test 24 h after the treatment and then the animals were submitted to euthanasia At the 75% of the LD50 extract concentration a statistically significant increase in the mean number of cells with micronuclei and with DNA damage was observed in all rodents cell types analyzed and on three of the analyzed animal groups genetic toxicity was observed also at the 50% of the LD50 concentration Under our experimental conditions P cubeba extract showed moderate clastogenic and genotoxic effect in the rodents cells