RESUMEN
Extracts of the fruits of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. (Leguminosae) are widely consumed in folkloric medicine in Brazil and several other countries without any genetic toxicity evaluation. In this study we investigated, the clastogenic and cytotoxic potential of the crude aqueous extract of the fruits of C. ferrea in Wistar rat bone marrow cells using the micronucleus and chromosomal aberration test systems. The animals were treated by gavage with 3 concentrations of the extract, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide 30 mg/kg. Bone marrow cells were collected 24 h after the treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE), mean number of chromosomal aberrations or mitotic index (MI) for the 3 concentrations compared with negative control suggesting that the crude aqueous extract from the fruits of the C. ferrea has no clastogenic and cytotoxic effect in Wistar rat bone marrow cells.