Open AccessCytogenotoxic potential of Terminalia actinophylla (Mart.) bark in Allium cepa L.
Author(s) -
Francisca Mairana Silva de Sousa,
José Rafael da Silva Araújo,
Luciana Maria Fortes Magalhães Castelo Branco Couto,
Regina Maria Silva Sousa,
Maria das Dores Alves de Oliveira,
Joaquim Soares da Costa Júnior,
Francielle Alline Martins,
Pedro Marcos de Almeida
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
research, society and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2525-3409
DOI - 10.33448/rsd-v9i9.7322
Subject(s) - allium , genotoxicity , phytochemical , bark (sound) , traditional medicine , mitotic index , chemistry , terminalia , acute toxicity , botany , biology , toxicity , medicine , mitosis , ecology , organic chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Terminalia actinophylla (Mart), commonly known as "chapada", is used in folk medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, diabetes and anti-inflammatory. However, studies on its toxicity are still incipient. The present work was carried out with the objective of evaluating the phytochemical profile and the cytogenotoxic effect of the ethanolic extract of the T. actinophylla bark using the Allium cepa L. seed. Seeds of A. cepa were subjected to different extract concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/mL), a negative control (NC - distilled water) as well as trifluralin (PC - positive control), during 24 h of exposure. The phytochemical profile of the extract was obtained to identify the main secondary metabolites. The cytotoxicity (mitotic index) and the genotoxicity (chromosomal alterations) were analyzed by means of the collection of 5,000 meristematic cells. The statistical analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test (p<0.05). The phytochemicals present in the extract were tannins, saponins and reducing sugars. Only the lowest concentration (1.25 mg/ml) of T. actinophylla was cytotoxic in comparison with NC. There was a significant increase in the total average of chromosomal changes to lower concentrations (1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml) compared to NC. Probably, phytochemicals in the extract interfere with the cell cycle and cause DNA damage in A. cepa in lower concentrations. However, if bad studies must be carried out on mammals, since the extract with medicinal purpose can have harmful effects on the organism.