Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity, Antioxidant Potential and Chemical Composition of Leaves of Campomanesia pubescens (Mart. ex DC.) O.Berg.

BACKGROUND: Plants of the genus Campomanesia belong to the family Myrtaceae and are very abundant in Cerrado areas. Teas from leaves of species of this genus are used for intestinal infections, combating obesity, stomach pathology, fever and among others. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the chemical composition and antioxidant potential, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of ethanolic extract from leaves of Campomanesia pubescens (Mart. ex DC.) O.Berg. METHOD: For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, the free radical DPPH and for determination of phenolic compounds Folin-Ciocalteau reagent were used. Identification of the substances was performed by HPLC-DAD by comparison of the retention times with standards analyzed under the same conditions and by evaluation of molecular absorption spectra in the ultraviolet and visible region. The cytotoxicity, genotoxicity were evaluated using Allium cepa bioassay. RESULTS: In the ethanolic extract 7-hydroxy-6-methyl-5-methoxyflavanone, 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methylflavanone, 5,7-dihydroxy-8-methylflavanone, 2´,4´-dihydroxy-6´-methoxychalcone, 5,7-dihydroxy-6,8- dimethylflavanone, 2´,4´-dihydroxy-5´-methyl-6´-methoxychalcone and 2´,4´-dihydroxy-3´,5´-dimethyl-6´- methoxychalcone were identified. The extract showed antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effects on cell division and increased chromosomal alterations in Allium cepa test. CONCLUSION: These results showed antioxidant activity and suggest the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in Allium cepa of ethanolic extract obtained from the leaves of Campomanesia pubescens.

Effects of atmospheric pollutants on somatic and germ cells of Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt cv. purpurea.

Anatomical alterations in leaves and DNA damage in cells caused by the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants can be measured by epidermal leaf analyses and Tradescantia micronuclei assay with early pollen tetrad cells. The present study examined the feasibility of using somatic and germ cells of Tradescantia pallida for biomonitoring purposes in the city of Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. Stomatal, micronucleus and epidermal leaf analyses were performed, using standard methodologies, on plants growing at three locations during six different time periods. Tradescantia micronuclei data were analyzed using SAS 9.2 software package and stomatal data were analyzed using SANEST software. Analyses of stomatal characteristics and micronuclei examination in T. pallida were found to be an efficient tool for monitoring atmospheric pollution. The micronucleus assay suggested that the number of micronuclei in early pollen tetrad cells was related to the intensity of vehicular traffic. Increased number of epidermal cells and stomata and increased stomatal density observed at locations with greater vehicular traffic are likely physiological responses of those plants to the increased gas exchange in highly polluted environments.