Investigation of the antimutagenic effects of selected South African medicinal plant extracts

L Verschaeve; V Kestens; J L S Taylor; E E Elgorashi; A Maes; L Van Puyvelde; N De Kimpe; J Van Staden

doi:10.1016/s0887-2333(03)00131-0

Investigation of the antimutagenic effects of selected South African medicinal plant extracts

Toxicol In Vitro. 2004 Feb;18(1):29-35. doi: 10.1016/s0887-2333(03)00131-0.

Authors

L Verschaeve¹, V Kestens, J L S Taylor, E E Elgorashi, A Maes, L Van Puyvelde, N De Kimpe, J Van Staden

Affiliation

¹ Flemish Institute of Technological Research (Vito), Expertise Centre of Environmental Toxicology, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. luc.verschaeve@vito.be

PMID: 14630059
DOI: 10.1016/s0887-2333(03)00131-0

Abstract

Dichloromethane extracts from different parts of Rhamnus prinoides, Ornithogalum longibracteatum, Gardenia volkensii, Spirostachys africana, Diospyros whyteana, Syzigium cordatum and Prunus africana were investigated for mutagenic and antimutagenic effects in Salmonella/microsome and micronucleus tests. None of the extracts tested in the Ames test were found to induce mutations or to modify the effect of the mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-oxide (4NQO). In the micronucleus test, extracts from twigs/bark of R. prinoides, twigs of D. whyteana, P. africana and S. cordatum significantly lowered the effect of the mutagen mitomycin C (MMC). Extracts from twigs/bark of G. volkensii and S. africana were genotoxic in the micronucleus test, while extracts of O. longibracteatum leaves potentiated the genotoxicity of MMC. This preliminary investigation shows that plant extracts used in traditional medicine may have particular effects with regard to mutagenicity and antimutagenicity indicating careful use in some instances and the need to isolate their active principles for further research.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide / toxicity
Animals
Antimutagenic Agents / chemistry
Antimutagenic Agents / pharmacology*
Diospyros / chemistry
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
Drug Synergism
Euphorbiaceae / chemistry
Euphorbiaceae / toxicity
Gardenia / chemistry
Gardenia / toxicity
Humans
Medicine, African Traditional*
Methylene Chloride / chemistry
Methylene Chloride / isolation & purification
Micronucleus Tests / methods
Mitomycin / antagonists & inhibitors
Mitomycin / toxicity
Mutagenicity Tests / methods
Ornithogalum / chemistry
Ornithogalum / toxicity
Plant Extracts / chemistry
Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
Plant Leaves / chemistry
Plant Leaves / toxicity
Plant Roots / chemistry
Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
Prunus / chemistry
Rhamnose / chemistry
Rhamnose / pharmacology
Salmonella typhimurium / drug effects
Salmonella typhimurium / genetics
South Africa
Syzygium / chemistry
Syzygium / toxicity

Substances

Antimutagenic Agents
Plant Extracts
Mitomycin
4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide
Methylene Chloride
Rhamnose