Genotoxic evaluation of hot aqueous extract of Baccharis articulata by mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay

TORRES C; CARIDDI LN; ESCOBAR FM; SABINI MC; SABINI LI; ZANON S

Congreso; III Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biología de la República Argentina; 2015

Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers., distributed globally, is particularly abundant in the hills of Córdoba (Argentina) and it is often used in regional folk medicin, especially in the treatment of digestive ailments due to its hepatoprotective, coleretic and colagogue action. The species is found in many herbal products of great human consumption. Several studies have demonstrated that different extracts of B. articulata present antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, few studies have evaluated the potentially cytogenotoxic effect of herbal products that ensure thir safe use. The aim of this study was to determine the cytogenotoxic ability of hot aqueous extract of Baccharis articulata (HAE) using a mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. No toxicity was detected in any extract-treated groups (polychromatic erythrocytes/ normochromatic erythrocytes). HAE, at doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/Kg, did not produce an increase in the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in bone marrow with respect to the negative control. In conclusion, the present work demonstrates the absence of a cytogenotoxic effect in the hot aqueous extract of Baccharis articulata on mouse bone marrow.