In vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic analysis of Garcinia humilis crude extract

Garcinia humilis, known commonly as achachairú or bacupari, has great medicinal value. Their fruits have pharmacological, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of G. humilis crude extract in breast tumor cells. Cytotoxicity was determined using the Resazurin reduction assay and genotoxicity by the single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay) on human MCF-7 cells. Crude extract of G. humilis was cytotoxic only when used at high concentrations (IC50 = 5.084 mg mL-1). The Comet assay showed that the crude extract did not induce genotoxicity at 1 and 5 mg mL-1 but did show signs of DNA fragmentation and DNA fragmentation at 10 mg mL-1. The cytotoxic activity against breast adenocarcinoma cells at high concentrations suggests that this medicinal plant could be used with caution and must be further studied to understand better its therapeutic and toxicological potential in the human body.

Cytogenotoxic effects of nitrogen on hydroponic lettuce / Efeitos citogenotóxicos do nitrogênio em alface hidropônica

Nitrogen accumulation in hydroponically-grown lettuce may pose a health risk to consumers. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze different concentrations of nitrogen applications in hydroponic lettuce cultivation and their effect on toxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. A nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system was used to grow the lettuce variety "Vanda." The treatments consisted of different concentrations of nitrogen (in the form of calcium nitrate) in Furlani solution (75, 100, 125 and 150%), a negative and a positive control. The following commercial characteristics were measured: plant fresh weight (PFW), root fresh weight (RFW), shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot diameter (SD), root dry weight (RDW), shoot dry weight (SDW) and leaf nitrogen (LN). Cytogenotoxicity was indicated by toxicity, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, which were in turn determined by root length, the mitotic index, chromosomal aberrations and the presence of micronuclei. The nitrogen concentrations used in this experiment did not cause phenotypic toxicity or cytotoxicity in lettuce roots. The most severe genotoxicity was observed at the 125% nitrogen concentration, which nevertheless did not affect commercial characteristics. Although nitrogen fertilization provides great benefits to agriculture, such as greater yields, indiscriminate use should be avoided since concentrations above recommended rates may induce genotoxicity.

O acúmulo de nitrogênio em alface cultivada hidroponicamente pode representar um risco à saúde dos consumidores. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar diferentes concentrações de aplicações de nitrogênio no cultivo de alface hidropônica e seus efeitos na toxicidade, citotoxicidade e genotoxicidade. Em sistema hidropônico do tipo filme de nutrientes (NFT) foi usado para cultivar a variedade de alface "Vanda". Os tratamentos consistiram em diferentes concentrações de nitrogênio (na forma de nitrato de cálcio) na solução Furlani (75, 100, 125 e 150%), um controle negativo e um positivo. Foram medidas as seguintes características comerciais: peso fresco da planta (PFW), peso fresco da raiz (RFW), peso fresco da parte aérea (SFW), diâmetro da parte aérea (SD), peso seco da raiz (RDW), peso seco da parte aérea (SDW) e nitrogênio foliar (LN). A citogenotoxicidade foi indicada por toxicidade, citotoxicidade e genotoxicidade, que por sua vez foram determinadas pelo comprimento da raiz, índice mitótico, aberrações cromossômicas e presença de micronúcleos. As concentrações de nitrogênio utilizadas neste experimento não causaram toxicidade fenotípica ou citotoxicidade em raízes de alface. A genotoxicidade mais severa foi observada na concentração de nitrogênio de 125%, que, no entanto, não afetou as características comerciais. Embora a fertilização nitrogenada traga grandes benefícios à agricultura, como maiores rendimentos, o uso indiscriminado deve ser evitado, pois concentrações acima das taxas recomendadas podem induzir genotoxicidade.