The objective of this study was to investigate changes in enzymatic activity and gene expression related to antioxidant defense in two passion fruit cultivars (FB100 and FB200) exposed to aluminum. The specific activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and ascorbate peroxidase were analyzed, in addition to their relative expression pattern. The characterization of gene expression was achieved by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique followed by densitometric analysis. Plants were irrigated every two days with a nutrient solution: pH 6; pH 4; 0.2 and 2.0 mM Al (pH 4). The leaves were collected at the times 0 h, 2 days, 5 days and 10 days. The analysis of the potential oxidative stress induced by aluminum demonstrated increased expression of catalase and superoxide dismutase gene, and only on the cultivar FB100 this increase was accompanied by an increase of SOD enzymatic activity, which indicates its higher efficiency on the removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to cultivar FB200.

RESUMO:Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a composição química, estabelecer a dose letal média (DL 50 ) e av aliar os potenciais efeitos mutagênicos do extrato hidroalcoólico de folhas e inflorescências de Erythrina mulungu Mart. ex Benth por meio do teste de micronúcleo em medula óssea de camundongos. Os ensaios fitoquímicos foram realizados através de reações preliminares com mudança de coloração e/ou formação de precipitado; a DL 50 , por meio da administração intraperitoneal de três concentrações dos extratos, avaliando-se o número de óbitos após 48 horas e o teste de micronúcleo foi feito por meio do método do esfregaço, após exposição dos animais a cinco dias de tratamento. Os resultados fitoquímicos demonstraram presença de açúcares redutores, fenóis e taninos, proteínas e aminoácidos, flavonóides, alcalóides, depsídeos e depsidonas e derivados de cumarina em ambos os órgãos; saponinas espumídicas e esteróides e triterpenóides nas folhas e glicosídeos cardiotônicos e antraquinônicos e alcalóides nas inflorescências. Para a DL 50 a folha demonstrou-se atóxica e a inflorescência moderadamente tóxica. Para o teste de micronúcleo, os resultados indicaram ausência de citotoxicidade e genotoxicidade dosedependente para as folhas e independente da dose para as inflorescências. Assim, esses resultados sugerem que a planta, nas condições analisadas, possui potencial para induzir danos ao DNA. Palavras-chave:Erythrina mulungu, composição química, DL50, micronúcleo ABSTRACT: Phytochemical and mutagenic analysis of leaves and inflorescences of Erythrina mulungu (Mart. Ex Benth) through micronucleus test in rodents. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, to establish the mean lethal dose (LD 50 ) and to assess the potential mutagenic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves and inflorescences of Erythrina mulungu Mart. ex Benth by using micronucleus test in bone marrow of mice. Phytochemical assays were carried out through preliminary reactions with color change and/or precipitate formation; the LD 50 was obtained by intraperitoneal administration of three concentrations of the extracts, assessing the number of deaths after 48 hours, and the micronucleus test was done by the smear method, after exposure of animals to five days of treatment. Phytochemical results showed the presence of reducing sugars, phenols and tannins, proteins and amino acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, depsides, depsidones and coumarin derivatives in both organs; foaming and steroidal saponins and triterpenes in the leaves and cardiotonic and anthraquinonic glycosides and alkaloids in the inflorescences. Considering the LD 50 , the leaf was atoxic and the inflorescence was moderately toxic. As regards the micronucleus test, results indicated absence of cytotoxicity while genotoxicity was dose-dependent for leaves and dose-independent for inflorescences. Thus, these results suggest that the plant, under the tested conditions, has the potential to induce damages to the DNA.