Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Effects of the Traditional Herb Used for Treating Erectile Dysfunction,Butea superbaRoxb.

Abstract

Butea superba is a traditional tuberous Thai plant enriched with flavonoids that is used for treating erectile dysfunction. We investigated the mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials of a B. superba extract by using the pre-incubation method of the Ames test. Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 were applied as the tester strains in the presence and absence of an S9 mixture. Prior to the mutagenic and antimutagenic tests, the survival of the tester strains was measured by treating with the B. superba extract. The results show that the B. superba extract exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic effects. Data from the Ames test revealed that the B. superba extract to be non-mutagenic in the presence and absence of the S9 mixture. In contrast, the B. superba extract showed antimutagenic potential towards either or both of the tested mutagens: 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-acrylamide (AF-2) and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) in the respective presence and absence of the S9 mixture, respectively. The plant antimutagenic activity was confirmed by a rec assay. A further study by micronucleus test demonstrated that the B. superba extract at the maximum loading volume could induce acute micronucleus formation in the tested animals. The in vitro mutagenic and antimutagenic assays confirmed the safe consumption of B. superba products at low dose (not more than 781.25 g/ml of the plant extract), but the in vivo genotoxic assay demonstrated the unsafe consumption at a high dose (300 mg/kg of the BW plant extract or 16 g/kg of the BW plant powder).

Effect of Puerarin on the Proliferation and Differentiation of Osteoblasts and the Expression of Type I Collagen mRNA on a High-Glucose Environment

“…In recent years, studies have confirmed that Pue can be used to prevent and treat postmenopausal osteoporosis, showing an estrogen-like effect while being less toxic (19,20). Its ability to activate blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis has certain applications in the clinical treatment of DM (21)(22)(23). Osteoporosis is associated with degenerative changes.…”

First Syntheses of (±)‐Butesuperins A and B

“…Even though the use of Butea superba root as a traditional medical herb hints its safety, its safety has not been rigorously evaluated. Several toxicological studies revealed that the dried roots were mutagenic at high doses in mice, and caused increases in spleen weight and increases in the levels of several blood parameters in rats . One case report described hyperandrogenemia that occurred in a male who took capsules containing Butea superba tuber for several weeks .…”

“…Several human clinical trials have been performed to prove the efficacy of Butea superba tubers for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and as an aphrodisiac, but the results led to conflicting conclusions and placebo effects were not assessed in these clinical trials. Several toxicological studies revealed that the dried roots were mutagenic at high doses in mice, 5 and caused increases in spleen weight and increases in the levels of several blood parameters in rats. Several toxicological studies revealed that the dried roots were mutagenic at high doses in mice, 5 and caused increases in spleen weight and increases in the levels of several blood parameters in rats.…”

Phytochemical Study of <i>Butea superba</i> Roxb. and its Extraction by Successive Solvent and Direct Ethanolic Extraction

“…A solution containing 10% sulfuric acid dissolved in methanol. [15] RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was conducted to determine the quantity of components present in the individual extracts. Various solvent systems with varying polarities were tested, and the most optimal solvent system, which yielded the highest resolution, was chosen.…”