In vivo assessment of cyto/genotoxic, antigenotoxic and antifungal potential of Costus spiralis (Jacq.) Roscoe leaves and stems

Abstract

Costus spiralis is a Brazilian native plant used in popular medicine, but the safety of this therapeutic use needs investigation. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cytogenotoxic and antigenotoxic effects of C. spiralis leaves or stems aqueous extracts on Allium cepa root cells. Moreover, a phytochemical screening and an antioxidant and antifungal activities evaluation were performed. C. spiralis aqueous extracts presented cytotoxicity, but no mutagenicity was observed. When the antigenotoxicity was evaluated, C. spiralis leaves aqueous extract presented preventive and modulatory effects on A. cepa root cells, reducing the sodium azide cytogenotoxic effects. In contrast, C. spiralis stems aqueous extract enhanced the sodium azide cytogenotoxicity in some conditions. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic compounds in C. spiralis. When total phenolic content was determined, the leaves presented 73% more phenolic content than stems. Corroborating this data, C. spiralis leaves antioxidant potential was 30% higher than C. spiralis stems. However, these extracts did not present antifungal activity against Candida spp. In conclusion, empirical utilization of C. spiralis aqueous extracts should be avoided. Moreover, the cytotoxic effect of C. spiralis leaves and stems can play an important role in anticancer therapy and must be deeply studied.

Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and antiprofilerative effect of Costus Scaber Ruiz & Pav (Costaceae): a contribution to folk medicine, oncology and genetic improvement/ Citotoxicidade, genotoxicidade e efeito antiprofilerativo de Costus scaber Ruiz & Pav (Costaceae): uma contribuição para medicina popular, oncologia e melhoramento genético

“…From the macroscopic analyses in the study by Sousa et al (2017), it was possible to observe that the extracts of leaves and stems of C.spiralis showed inhibitory effect on the growth of roots of A. cepa, similar to what was observed for the positive control in our study. The meristems of the roots of onions treated with infusions from leaves or stalks of C. spiralis showed signs of toxicity, presenting changes in color, marks of necrosis, curving and tumors, corroborating with the present study.…”

Cytotoxic effect of Vernonanthura polyanthes leaves aqueous extracts

“…As discussed before, the presence of flavonoids and terpenoids could account for the lack of mutagenic effects caused by infusions of these extract (Teixeira et al, 2003;Perveen, 2018). Similarly to what was observed in this work, Costus spiralis (Sousa et al, 2017), Sambucus australis (Tedesco et al, 2017), Luchea divaricata (Frescura et al, 2012) and Solidago microglossa (Bagatini et al, 2009) medicinal extracts also presented cytotoxic but no genotoxic or mutagenic effect using A. cepa test.…”

Costus spp e sua relevância medicinal: Uma revisão integrativa

“…Em relação aos estudos que avaliaram a atividade antimicrobiana, houve predominância de teste in vitro em todos os cinco (24%) artigos (Cunha et al, 2011;Duraipandiyan, Al-Harbi, Ignacimuthu & Muthukumar, 2012;Al-Kattan & Khayyat, 2017;Ibrahim et al, 2019;Sousa et al, 2018). A atividade urolítica foi estudada em apenas dois (9,5%) artigos através de métodos in vitro (De Cógáin et al, 2015;Moreno et al, 2021).…”

“…Para confirmar os relatos de uso popular do gênero Costus, os extratos aquosos obtidos do caule e das folhas de Costus spiralis foram testados, em ensaio de disco-difusão em meio ágar sabouraud, contra duas espécies de Candida: C. albicans e C. parapsilosis, utilizando água destilada como controle negativo e Fluconazol como controle positivo. Os resultados expuseram que tais amostras não apresentaram atividade antifúngica para três concentrações testadas (Tabela 6) (Sousa, et al, 2018).…”

“…Porém outras espécies pertencentes a Ordem Zingiberale apresentou atividades antifúngicas por conter constituintes menos polares como curcuminóides, pironas de kava e gingeróis isolados. Dessa forma, pode-se relacionar a maior polaridade do extrato aquoso a ineficácia da atividade antifúngica, uma vez que os compostos com atividade antifúngica foram extraídos com solvente de menor polaridade (Habsah et al, 2000;Sousa et al, 2018;Braga et al, 2007).…”