Vernonanthura polyanthes leaves aqueous extract enhances doxorubicin genotoxicity in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster and presents no antifungal activity against Candida spp.

Abstract

Vernonanthura polyanthes (Spreng.) A.J. Vega & Dematt. (Asteraceae), known as "assa-peixe", has been used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of various diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, hemoptysis, persistent cough, internal abscesses, gastric and kidney stone pain. Moreover, some studies demonstrated that species of Genus Vernonia present antifungal activity. Due to the biological relevance of this species, the aim of this study was to investigate the toxic, genotoxic, antigenotoxic and antifungal potential of V. polyanthes leaves aqueous extract in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster or against Candida spp. The aqueous extract of the plant showed no toxic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic activity in the experimental conditions tested using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART/wing). However, when the extract was associated with doxorubicin, used in this work as a positive control, the mutagenic potential of doxorubicin was enhanced, increasing the number of mutations in D. melanogaster somatic cells. In the other hand, no inhibitory activity against Candida spp. was observed for V. polyanthes leaves aqueous extract using agar-well diffusion assay. More studies are necessary to reveal the components present in the V. polyanthes leaves aqueous extract that could contribute to potentiate the doxorubicin genotoxicity.Keywords: assa-peixe, Asteraceae, Cerrado, SMART/wing test, Vernonia polyanthes.O extrato aquoso das folhas de Vernonanthura polyanthes potencializa a genotoxicidade da doxorrubicina em células somáticas de Drosophila melanogaster e não apresenta atividade antifúngica contra Candida spp. ResumoVernonanthura polyanthes (Spreng.) A.J. Vega & Dematt. (Asteraceae), conhecida como "assa-peixe", tem sido utilizada na medicina popular para o tratamento de várias doenças, como bronquite, pneumonia, hemoptise, tosse persistente, abcessos internos, afecções gástricas e cálculo renal. Além disso, alguns estudos já demonstraram que espécies do Gênero Vernonia apresentam atividade antifúngica. Devido à relevância biológica dessa espécie, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos citotóxico, genotóxico, antigenotóxico e antifúngico do extrato aquoso das folhas de V. polyanthes em células somáticas de Drosophila melanogaster ou contra Candida spp. O extrato aquoso da planta não apresentou atividade citotóxica, genotóxica e antigenotóxica nas condições experimentais testadas usando o teste de recombinação e mutação somática em asa (SMART-asa). No entanto, quando o extrato foi associado com a doxorrubicina, utilizada neste trabalho como controle positivo, o potencial mutagênico da doxorrubicina foi potencializado, aumentando oBraz.

Cytotoxic effect of Vernonanthura polyanthes leaves aqueous extracts

“…A previous study using Drosophila as a model to evaluate the toxic potential of V. polyanthes leaves aqueous extract showed no toxic, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic activity in the experimental conditions tested using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test SMART/wing (Guerra-Santos et al, 2016). Different from that, at the present work we identified a toxic and cytotoxic activity of V. polyanthes.…”

“…In addition to those phytochemical screenings, previous characterization also have been shown that different V. polyanthes leaves extracts present compounds such as: flavones chrysoeriol-7-O-glycuronyl, acacetin-flavones 7-O-glycuronyl, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, lactones piptocarphin A and piptocarphin B, glaucolide A, chlorogenic acids, coumarins, glycosides, steroids, saponin glycosides, and alkaloids (Gallon et al, 2018;Martucci et al, 2014;Igual at al., 2013;Souza et al, 2008). Despite this variety of metabolites, some studies pointed that flavonoids and terpenoids are the main compounds present in V. polyanthes extracts (Barbastefano et al, 2007;Bohlmann et al, 1981).…”

“…After a rest of 20 min, the solution was filtered using the Millipore membrane filter (0.45 μm pore size) and briefly used. The V. polyanthes leaves aqueous extract concentration commonly used in popular medicine is 20 mg/ml (ANVISA, 2011, Guerra-Santos et al, 2016. Then, it was tested five different concentrations in A. salina assay (5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/ml) and three different concentrations in A. cepa assay (10, 20, and 40 mg/ml).…”

“…In relation to the toxicity, previous study identified that the V. polyanthes aqueous extract showed no toxic, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic activity in the experimental conditions tested using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test SMART/wing (Guerra-Santos et al, 2016). On the other hand, other study demonstrated that the V. polyanthes leaves ethanolic extract was toxic to mice with LD 50 of 2.78 g/kg (Temponi et al, 2012).…”

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant, Anti-Cytotoxic and Anticancer Effects of Galinsoga Parviflora and Vernonia Polyanthes (Asteraceae) Extracts

“…V. polyanthes is used therapeutically as an infusion to treat infections of the respiratory tract, muscle pain, kidney treatments, wounds, sprains, bruises, dislocations, hemorrhoids and uterus infections [18], [20], [23]. In addition, there are in vitro and in vivo tests that demonstrate its diuretic, antihypertensive, anti-hemorrhagic, sedative, abortive, anthelmintic, antiulcerogenic, antirheumatic, healing, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antibacterial, antifungal, leishmanicidal and anti-tumor actions [18], [21], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29].…”