Chemical characterization of Callingcard Vine (Entada polystachya (L.) DC. var. polystachya) aqueous seed extract and evaluation of its cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic properties.

Callingcard Vine (Entada polystachya (L.) DC. var. polystachya - Fabaceae) is a common plant in coastal thickets from western Mexico through Central America to Colombia and Brazil, especially in Amazon biome. It has been popularly used as a urinary burning reliever and diuretic. However, the plant chemical constituents are poorly understood and Entada spp. genotoxic potential have not been previously investigated. In the present study we determined the chemical composition of the aqueous E. polystachya crude seed extract (EPCSE) and evaluated the cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic properties of EPCSE in Salmonella typhimurium and Chinese hamster fibroblast (V79) cells. Cytotoxic activity was also evaluated in tumor cell lines (HT29, MCF7 and U87) and non-malignant cells (MRC5). The chemical analysis by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) of EPCSE indicated the presence of saponin and chalcone. The results of the MTT and clonal survival assays suggest that EPCSE is cytotoxic to V79 cells. Survival analysis showed higher IC50 in non-tumor compared with tumor cell lines. EPCSE showed induction of DNA strand breaks as revealed by the alkaline comet assay and micronucleus test. Using the modified comet assay, it was possible to detect the induction of oxidative DNA base damage by EPCSE in V79 cells. Consistently, the extract induced increase lipid peroxidation (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in V79 cells. In addition, EPCSE induced mutations in S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains, confirming a mutagenic potential. Taken together, our results suggest that EPCSE is cytotoxic and genotoxic to V79 cells and mutagenic to S. typhimurium. These properties can be related to the pro-oxidant ability of the extract and induction of DNA lesions. Additionally, EPCSE could inhibit the growth of tumor cells, especially human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29) cell line, and can constitute a possible source of antitumor natural agents.

Diphenyl ditelluride anticancer activity and DNA topoisomerase I poisoning in human colon cancer HCT116 cells.

Diphenyl ditelluride (DPDT) is an organotellurium (OT) compound with pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antigenotoxic and antimutagenic activities when applied at low concentrations. However, DPDT as well as other OT compounds also show cytotoxicity against mammalian cells when treatments occur at higher drug concentrations. Considering that the underlying mechanisms of toxicity of DPDT against tumor cells have been poorly explored, the objective of our study was to investigate the effects of DPDT against both human cancer and non-tumorigenic cells. As a model, we used the colonic HCT116 cancer cells and the MRC5 fibroblasts. Our results showed that DPDT preferentially targets HCT116 cancer cells when compared to MRC5 cells with IC50 values of 2.4 and 10.1 µM, respectively. This effect was accompanied by the induction of apoptosis and a pronounced G2/M cell cycle arrest in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, DPDT induces DNA strand breaks at concentrations below 5 µM in HCT116 cells and promotes the occurrence of DNA double strand breaks mostly during S-phase as measured by γ-H2AX/EdU double staining. Finally, DPDT forms covalent complexes with DNA topoisomerase I, as observed by the TARDIS assay, with a more prominent effect observed in HCT116 than in MRC5 cells. Taken together, our results show that DPDT preferentially targets HCT116 colon cancer cells likely through DNA topoisomerase I poisoning. This makes DPDT an interesting molecule for further development as an anti-proliferative compound in the context of cancer.

Brazil's Regulatory Context for Using New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) on the Registration of Products.

New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are any non-animal-based approaches that can provide information in the context of chemical hazard and safety assessment. The goal is to develop information with equivalent or better scientific quality and relevance than that provided by traditional animal models. Starting with ethical issues, these approaches are gaining regulatory relevance in different global agencies. Since 2008, with the enactment of the Arouca Law-the first Brazilian legislation dedicated to laboratory animals, NAMs are gathering pace in Brazil's regulations. Specific regulations from different sectors include the acceptance of these new methods. However, some regulation is controversial about what is needed to address specific toxicological endpoints. The resulting regulatory uncertainty induces companies to keep on adopting the traditional methods, slowing NAM's development in the country. This work brings a perspective on the regulatory acceptance of NAMs in Brazilian Legislation for the registration of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food/supplements, and agrochemical products. This text discusses the main issues of NAM adoption for each specific regulation. Therefore, legal acceptance of NAMs results in Brazil is still a process in progress. A collective effort including regulators, industry, contract research organizations (CROs), and the academic environment is needed to build regulatory confidence in the use of NAMs.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae DNA repair pathways involved in repair of lesions induced by mixed ternary mononuclear Cu(II) complexes based on valproic acid with 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'- bipyridine ligands.

The sodium valproate has been largely used as an anti-epilepsy drug and, recently, as a putative drug in cancer therapy. However, the treatment with sodium valproate has some adverse effects. In this sense, more effective and secure complexes than sodium valproate should be explored in searching for new active drugs. This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity of sodium valproate, mixed ternary mononuclear Cu(II) complexes based on valproic acid (VA) with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) or 2,2'- bipyridine (Bipy) ligands - [Cu2(Valp)4], [Cu(Valp)2Phen] and [Cu(Valp)2Bipy] - in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, proficient or deficient in different repair pathways, such as base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), translesion synthesis (TLS), DNA postreplication repair (PRR), homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). The results indicated that the Cu(II) complexes have higher cytotoxicity than sodium valproate in the following order: [Cu(Valp)2Phen] > [Cu(Valp)2Bipy] > [Cu2(Valp)4] > sodium valproate. The treatment with Cu(II) complexes and sodium valproate induced mutations in S. cerevisiae. The data indicated that yeast strains deficient in BER (Ogg1p), NER (complex Rad1p-Rad10p) or TLS (Rev1p, Rev3p and Rad30p) proteins are associated with increased sensitivity to sodium valproate. The BER mutants (ogg1Δ, apn1Δ, rad27Δ, ntg1Δ and ntg2Δ) showed increased sensitivity to Cu(II) complexes. DNA damage induced by the complexes requires proteins from NER (Rad1p and Rad10p), TLS (Rev1p, Rev3p and Rad30p), PRR (Rad6 and Rad18p) and HR (Rad52p and Rad50p) for efficient repair. Therefore, Cu(II) complexes display enhanced cytotoxicity when compared to the sodium valproate and induce distinct DNA lesions, indicating a potential application as cytotoxic agents.

Origanum majorana Essential Oil Lacks Mutagenic Activity in the Salmonella/Microsome and Micronucleus Assays.

The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro mutagenic activity of Origanum majorana essential oil. The most abundant compounds identified by GC-MS were γ-terpinene (25.73%), α-terpinene (17.35%), terpinen-4-ol (17.24%), and sabinene (10.8%). Mutagenicity was evaluated by the Salmonella/microsome test using the preincubation procedure on TA98, TA97a, TA100, TA102, and TA1535 Salmonella typhimurium strains, in the absence or in the presence of metabolic activation. Cytotoxicity was detected at concentrations higher than 0.04 µL/plate in the absence of S9 mix and higher than 0.08 µL/plate in the presence of S9 mix and no gene mutation increase was observed. For the in vitro mammalian cell micronucleus test, V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts were used. Cytotoxicity was only observed at concentrations higher than or equal to 0.05 µg/mL. Moreover, when tested in noncytotoxic concentrations, O. majorana essential oil was not able to induce chromosome mutation. The results from this study therefore suggest that O. majorana essential oil is not mutagenic at the concentrations tested in the Salmonella/microsome and micronucleus assays.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by coal and coal fly ash particles samples in V79 cells.

Exposure to coal and coal ashes can cause harmful effects in in vitro and in vivo systems, mainly by the induction of oxidative damage. The aim of this work was to assess cytotoxic and genotoxic effects using the V79 cell line treated with coal and coal fly ash particles derived from a coal power plant located in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Two coal samples (COAL11 and COAL16) and two coal fly ash samples (CFA11 and CFA16) were included in this study. COAL16 was co-firing with a mixture of fuel oil and diesel oil. The comet assay data showed that exposure of V79 cells to coal and coal fly ash particles induced primary DNA lesions. Application of lesion-specific endonucleases (FPG and ENDO III) demonstrated increased DNA effects indicating the presence of high amounts of oxidative DNA lesions. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay analysis showed that exposure of V79 cells to high concentrations of coal and coal fly ash particles induced cytotoxic effects (apoptosis and necrosis) and chromosomal instability (nucleoplasmic bridges, nuclear buds, and micronucleus (MN) formation). These results may be associated with compounds contained in the surface of the particles as hazardous elements, ultrafine/nanoparticles, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which were detected in the samples. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles induce genotoxicity but not mutagenicity in golden mussel Limnoperna fortunei.

The widespread use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NP) in consumer products is the cause of its appearance in wastewater and effluents, reaching the aquatic environment. The evaluation of the biological impact of TiO2-NP and the need to understand its ecotoxicological impact to the aquatic ecosystem are of major concern. Bivalve mollusks may represent a target group for nanoparticle toxicity. Limnoperna fortunei (golden mussel), a freshwater bivalve organism that has been employed in biomonitoring environmental conditions. Comet assay, micronucleus test and oxidative damage to lipids and proteins were performed after the golden mussel was exposed to TiO2-NP (1, 5, 10 and 50µgmL(-1)). The results demonstrate that TiO2-NP can damage the DNA of haemocytes after 2h of exposure and the genotoxic activity significantly increased after 4h exposure to TiO2-NP, at all the TiO2-NP concentrations. TiO2-NP was ineffective in causing mutagenicity in the haemolymph cells of golden mussel. The increase in the lipid peroxidation levels and carbonyl proteins after the exposure to TiO2-NP indicates the induction of oxidative stress at 2h exposure with similar results to all TiO2-NP concentrations, but these effects did not occur at 4h exposure. These results demonstrated that, although TiO2-NP is not mutagenic to golden mussel, it does induce DNA damage and oxidative stress in these organisms.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of orthodontic bands with or without silver soldered joints.

Stainless steel bands, with or without silver soldered joints, are routinely used in orthodontics. However, little is known about the toxic biological effects of these appliances. The aims of this study were to evaluate the cytotoxic, cytostatic, genotoxic and DNA damage-inducing effects of non-soldered bands (NSB) and silver soldered bands (SSB) on the HepG2 and HOK cell lines and to quantify the amount of ions released by the bands. The 24-h metallic eluates of NSBs and SSBs were quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. An MTT reduction assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity, alkaline and modified comet assays were employed to measure genotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage effects, and cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-Cyt) assays were used to verify DNA damage, cytostasis and cytotoxicity. Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn were detected in SSB medium samples, and Fe and Ni were detected in both the SSB and NSB medium samples. The SSB group induced stronger cytotoxic effects than the NSB group in both evaluated cell lines. NSB and SSB induced genotoxicity as evaluated by comet assays; stronger effects were observed in the SSB group. Both groups induced similar increases in the number of oxidative DNA lesions, as detected by the FPG and Endo III enzymes. Nucleoplasmic bridges, biomarkers of DNA misrepair and/or telomere end fusions, were significantly elevated in the SSB group. The SSB eluates showed higher amounts of Ni and Fe than NSB, and all the quantified ions were detected in SSB eluates, including Cd. The SSB eluates were more cytotoxic and genotoxic than the NSB samples. Based on these results, we propose that other brands, materials and techniques should be further investigated for the future manufacture of orthodontic appliances.

The influence of micronutrients in cell culture: a reflection on viability and genomic stability.

Micronutrients, including minerals and vitamins, are indispensable to DNA metabolic pathways and thus are as important for life as macronutrients. Without the proper nutrients, genomic instability compromises homeostasis, leading to chronic diseases and certain types of cancer. Cell-culture media try to mimic the in vivo environment, providing in vitro models used to infer cells' responses to different stimuli. This review summarizes and discusses studies of cell-culture supplementation with micronutrients that can increase cell viability and genomic stability, with a particular focus on previous in vitro experiments. In these studies, the cell-culture media include certain vitamins and minerals at concentrations not equal to the physiological levels. In many common culture media, the sole source of micronutrients is fetal bovine serum (FBS), which contributes to only 5-10% of the media composition. Minimal attention has been dedicated to FBS composition, micronutrients in cell cultures as a whole, or the influence of micronutrients on the viability and genetics of cultured cells. Further studies better evaluating micronutrients' roles at a molecular level and influence on the genomic stability of cells are still needed.

Trabectedin and its C subunit modified analogue PM01183 attenuate nucleotide excision repair and show activity toward platinum-resistant cells.

PM01183 is a novel marine-derived covalent DNA binder in clinical development. PM01183 is structurally similar to trabectedin (yondelis, ecteinascidin-743) except for the C subunit, and this modification is accompanied by different pharmacokinetics in cancer patients. We here characterize the interaction of PM01183 with the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway in comparison with trabectedin. Our results show for the first time that although neither PM01183 nor trabectedin is repaired by NER, both compounds are able to interfere with the NER machinery thereby attenuating the repair of specific NER substrates. We further show that the NER activity is increased in 3 of 4 cellular models with acquired resistance to cisplatin or oxaliplatin, confirming the involvement of NER in the resistance to platinum derivatives. Importantly, both PM01183 and trabectedin show unchanged or even enhanced activity toward all 4 cisplatin- and oxaliplatin-resistant cell lines. We finally show that combinations of PM01183 and cisplatin were mostly synergistic toward both parental and cisplatin-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells as indicated by Chou and Talalay analysis. These data show that the C subunit of trabectedin can be subjected to at least some structural modifications without loss of activity or NER interaction. While PM01183 and trabectedin appear functionally similar in cellular models, it is likely that the differences in pharmacokinetics may allow different dosing and scheduling of PM01183 in the clinic that could lead to novel and/or increased antitumor activity. Taken together, our results provide a mechanistic basis to support clinical trials of PM01183 alone or in combination with cisplatin.

Evaluation of the cytotoxic and antimutagenic effects of biflorin, an antitumor 1,4 o-naphthoquinone isolated from Capraria biflora L.

Biflorin is a natural quinone isolated from Capraria biflora L. Previous studies demonstrated that biflorin inhibits in vitro and in vivo tumor cell growth and presents potent antioxidant activity. In this paper, we report concentration-dependent cytotoxic, genotoxic, antimutagenic, and protective effects of biflorin on Salmonella tiphymurium, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and V79 mammalian cells, using different approaches. In the Salmonella/microsome assay, biflorin was not mutagenic to TA97a TA98, TA100, and TA102 strains. However, biflorin was able to induce cytotoxicity in haploid S. cerevisiae cells in stationary and exponential phase growth. In diploid yeast cells, biflorin did not induce significant mutagenic and recombinogenic effects at the employed concentration range. In addition, the pre-treatment with biflorin prevented the mutagenic and recombinogenic events induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in S. cerevisiae. In V79 mammalian cells, biflorin was cytotoxic at higher concentrations. Moreover, at low concentrations biflorin pre-treatment protected against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative damage by reducing lipid peroxidation and DNA damage as evaluated by normal and modified comet assay using DNA glycosylases. Our results suggest that biflorin cellular effects are concentration dependent. At lower concentrations, biflorin has significant antioxidant and protective effects against the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and intracellular lipid peroxidation induced by H(2)O(2) in yeast and mammalian cells, which can be attributed to its hydroxyl radical-scavenging property. However, at higher concentrations, biflorin is cytotoxic and genotoxic.

3'3-ditrifluoromethyldiphenyl diselenide: a new organoselenium compound with interesting antigenotoxic and antimutagenic activities.

The trace element selenium (Se), once known only for its potential toxicity, is now a well-established essential micronutrient for mammals. The organoselenium compound diphenyl diselenide (DPDS) has shown interesting antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. On the other hand, this compound has also presented pro-oxidant and mutagenic effects. The compound 3'3-ditrifluoromethyldiphenyl diselenide (DFDD), a structural analog of diphenyl diselenide, has proven antipsychotic activity in mice. Nevertheless, as opposed to DPDS, little is known on the biological and toxicological properties of DFDD. In the present study, we report the genotoxic effects of the organoselenium compound DFDD on Salmonella typhimurium, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79 cells). DFDD protective effects against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced DNA damage in vitro are demonstrated. DFDD did not cause mutagenic effects on S. typhimurium or S. cerevisiae strains; however, it induced DNA damage in V79 cells at doses higher than 25 microM, as detected by comet assay. DFDD protected S. typhimurium and S. cerevisiae against H(2)O(2)-induced mutagenicity, and, at doses lower than 12.5 microM, prevented H(2)O(2)-induced genotoxicity in V79 cells. The in vitro assays demonstrated that DFDD mimics catalase activity better than DPDS, but neither presents superoxide dismutase action. The products of the reactions of DFDD or DPDS with H(2)O(2) were different, as determined by electrospray mass spectrometry analysis (ESI-MS). These results suggest that DFDD is not mutagenic for bacteria or yeast; however, it may induce weak genotoxic effects on mammalian cells. In addition, DFDD has a protective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced damage probably by mimicking catalase activity, and the distinct products of the reaction DFDD with H(2)O(2) probably have a fundamental role in the protective effects of DFDD.

Piplartine induces genotoxicity in eukaryotic but not in prokaryotic model systems.

Piplartine {5,6-dihydro-1-[(2E)-1-oxo-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-yl]-2(1H)-pyridinone} is an alkamide present in Piper species that exhibits promising anticancer properties. It was previously shown that piplartine is mutagenic in yeast and cultured mammalian cells. This study was performed to increase the knowledge on the mutagenic potential of piplartine using the Salmonella/microsome assay, V79 cell micronucleus and chromosome aberration assays, and mouse bone-marrow micronucleus tests. Piplartine was isolated from the roots of Piper tuberculatum. This extracted compound was unable to induce a mutagenic response in any Salmonella typhimurium strain either in the presence or absence of metabolic activation. Piplartine showed mutagenic effects in V79 cells, as there was an increased frequency of aberrant cells and micronuclei formation. In addition, piplartine administered at 50mg/kg did not induce micronucleus formation in vivo, but a dose of 100mg/kg induced an increase in the levels of micronucleus polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs). Overall, these results provide further support that piplartine induces in vivo and in vitro mutagenicity in eukaryotic models.

Genotoxicity of 15-deoxygoyazensolide in bacteria and yeast.

Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) present a wide range of pharmacological activities. The aim of our study was to investigate the genotoxicity of 15-deoxygoyazensolide using the Salmonella/microsome assay and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We also investigated the nature of induced DNA damage using yeast strains defective in DNA repair pathways, such as nucleotide excision repair (RAD3), error prone repair (RAD6), and recombinational repair (RAD52), and in DNA metabolism, such as topoisomerase mutants. 15-deoxygoyasenzolide was not mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium, but it was mutagenic in S. cerevisiae. The hypersensitivity of the rad52 mutant suggests that recombinational repair is critical for processing lesions resulting from 15-deoxygoyazensolide-induced DNA damage, whereas excision repair and mutagenic systems does not appear to be primarily involved. Top 1 defective yeast strain was highly sensitive to the cytotoxic activity of 15-deoxygoyazensolide, suggesting a possible involvement of this enzyme in the reversion of the putative complex formation between DNA and this SL, possibly due to intercalation. Moreover, the treatment with this lactone caused dose-dependent glutathione depletion, generating pro-oxidant status which facilitates oxidative DNA damage, particularly DNA breaks repaired by the recombinational system ruled by RAD52 in yeast. Consistent with this finding, the absence of Top1 directly affects chromatin remodeling, allowing repair factors to access oxidative damage, which explains the high sensitivity to top1 strain. In summary, the present study shows that 15-deoxygoyazensolide is mutagenic in yeast due to the possible intercalation effect, in addition to the pro-oxidant status that exacerbates oxidative DNA damage.

An organic selenium compound attenuates apomorphine-induced stereotypy in mice.

Selenium compounds display neuroprotective activities mediated at least in part by their antioxidant actions. Oxidative damage has been implicated in psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and an alteration in expression of selenium-binding protein-1 (SELENBP-1) has been recently reported in both the blood and brain of schizophrenic patients. In the present study we examined the effects of the organic selenium compound 3'3-ditrifluoromethyldiphenyl diselenide [(F3CPhSe)2] on apomorphine-induced stereotypy in mice, an animal model of psychosis. Systemic administration of (F3CPhSe)2 at the highest dose used (25.0 micromol/kg in a 10.0 ml/kg injection volume) significantly reduced apomorphine-induced stereotyped behaviors. A series of control experiments showed that the same dose of (F3CPhSe)2 did not affect open-field behavior, habituation, or aversively motivated memory. The results indicate that organic selenium compounds should be further investigated as agents with possible antipsychotic properties.