Antigenotoxic, Antioxidant and Lymphocyte Induction Effects Produced by Pteropodine

Abstract

Pteropodine is a heterohimbine-type oxindole alkaloid specifically isolated from 'Cat's claw' ( Uncaria tomentosa ), a plant that has shown cytostatic, anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic properties and is used in traditional medicine to cure a number of diseases. In this report, we studied the ability of pteropodine to decrease the rate of sister-chromatid exchanges and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice administered doxorubicin. We also determined its capacity to induce lymphocyte production in mice as well as its free radical scavenging potential by applying the DPPH assay. We found pteropodine (100-600 mg/kg) to significantly decrease the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice administered with 10 mg/kg of doxorubicin. Furthermore, we determined that pteropodine partially corrected bone marrow cytotoxicity induced by doxorubicin, as it showed an improvement in the rate of polychromatic erythrocytes. Besides, 600 mg/kg of pteropodine increased 25.8% of the production of lymphocytes over the control value along a 96-hr assay, and it exhibited a strong capacity to trap the DPPH-free radical (98.26% with 250 μ g/ml). Our results establish that pteropodine is an effective antimutagen in the model used, and suggest that pteropodine deserves further research in the area of cell protective potential and its mechanism of action.

Antinociceptive, genotoxic and histopathological study of Heliopsis longipes S.F. Blake in mice

“…It has been reported that daunorubicin induces severe chromosome damage by measuring sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and micronuclei (MN). For this reason, it is used as a positive control in experimental studies (Bommu et al, 2008: Paniagua-Pérez et al, 2009. In contrast, HLEE produced neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic damage in the present study.…”

Uncaria tomentosa Exerts Extensive Anti-Neoplastic Effects against the Walker-256 Tumour by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Not by Alkaloid Activity

“…Among the most abundant alkaloids found in this plant, there is a mixture of pentacyclic oxindole stereoisomers that differ in configuration at chiral centres in the positions 3, 7, 15, 19 and 20 (Figure 2A). In attempting to explain the anti-neoplastic effects of U. tomentosa , researchers have demonstrated interest in this group of substances, based on previous observations that gave them credit for its anti-inflammatory activity [8], [9]. However, it is important not to overlook the fact that cancer is a vast group of diseases that may vary substantially among them.…”

“…Indeed, reference to the use of alkaloids isolated from U. tomentosa goes as far back as to 1985, when Wagner and colleagues [8] observed that four out of six oxindole alkaloids present in this plant caused a pronounced enhancement of phagocytosis, both in vitro and in vivo . More recently, studies with several of these isolated alkaloids yielded reports on their antioxidant, immunomodulant [9] and even anti-neoplastic properties [10], [11]. Other studies, however, have demonstrated that compounds different than the oxindole alkaloids may be at least partially responsible for the observed effects.…”

Uncaria tomentosafor Reducing Side Effects Caused by Chemotherapy in CRC Patients: Clinical Trial

“…Many previous studies have clearly shown the potential of the antioxidant Ut , and its potent radical scavenger activity was confirmed by several assays including the following: the capacity to reduce the free radical diphenylpycrilhydrazyl (DPPH assay) [30, 31], the reaction with the superoxide anion, peroxyl [30], and hydroxyl radicals [30] as well as with the oxidant species, hydrogen peroxide, and hypochlorous acid [30, 32], and the TEAC assay [10]. The antioxidant activity of Ut extracts was further assayed through determination of TBARS production (using rat liver homogenates and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes) and by the inhibition of free radical-mediated DNA-sugar damage [30, 33].…”

“…The antioxidant activity of Ut extracts was further assayed through determination of TBARS production (using rat liver homogenates and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes) and by the inhibition of free radical-mediated DNA-sugar damage [30, 33]. These assays were primarily in vitro tests with one in vivo test [31]. Despite this strong evidence, no differences in oxidative stress were found between groups that received or did not receive Ut , as assessed by lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and protein carbonyls.…”