CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Cestrum parqui ĹHerit (?duraznillo negro?, CP) is a poisonous plant nativeto South America that affects large animals when consumed during the dryseason (June-August). Toxic compounds are atractylosides that inhibit theADP/ATP carrier leading to ATP depletion, thus affecting cell metabolism,especially in hepatocytes, being coagulative necrosis the consequentlesion. Besides the toxic compounds, other active principles are present inCP that have shown to exert protective effects in cells (with antioxidantand antimicrobial properties). The latter is attributed to the presence ofpolyphenols, among other compounds, which explains its use as a medicinalplant to heal wounds in some countries of the region. Aim of thisstudy was to analyze the effects of leaf extracts in an in vitro system todetermine cell viability in standardized conditions. Extracts were preparedwith 10 g dried leaves, 200 mL methanol using magnetic stirrer for 24 h.They were rotaevaporated until dryness and re-suspended with 10 mLDMSO. Phytochemical analysis of an aliquot of the extracts was performedas well. Cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus and comet assays were used toasses genotoxicity, CHO cells were cultured in Ham?s F10 medium supplementedwith 10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotics (50 IU penicillinand 50 mg/ml streptomycin) in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2.Treatments were as follows: 1) negative control, 2) positive control(bleomycin 1 mg/mL), 3) diluent control (180 mL/mL DMSO), and differentconcentrations of CP extract, 4) 200 mg/mL 5) 100 mg/mL 6) 50 mg/mL 7) 25mg/mL and 8) 12.5 mg/mL. Results indicate that higher concentrations ofextracts significantly prevent genotoxicity, as shown by statistical analysis.On the other hand, the lowest concentration generated toxicity in CHOcells. It can be concluded that the leaf extracts of CP may act as a genotoxicagent in a dose-dependent manner.