Abstract

Vernonanthura polyanthes, popularly known as ‘assa-peixe’, is widely used in Brazil for therapeutic purpose mainly to treat respiratory tract problems. However, few studies investigated its chemical safety. In this way, we first obtained the V. polyanthes leaf aqueous extract (VpLAE) and three fractions (aqueous; n-butanol, n-BF; and ethyl acetate), and we chemically characterized this material. Then, the cytogenotoxic potential of the VpLAE and its fractions was investigated against human erythrocytes and lymphocytes using Trypan blue exclusion test of cell viability and CometChip. The phytochemical screening of V. polyanthes leaf revealed the presence of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, terpenic compounds, and cardioactive heterosides. n-BF presented the highest total phenolic, flavonoids, and tannins contents and, consequently, the highest antioxidant activity, according to the DPPH free radical scavenging method. Although the VpLAE and its fractions did not cause death of erythrocytes, the cells acquired an echinocytic form. Regarding lymphocytes, VpLAE and its fractions presented cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. When VpLAE or its fractions were co-treated with doxorubicin (DXR), a recognized cytotoxic drug, we observed an enhancement of DXR cytotoxicity against lymphocytes, but the DXR genotoxicity decreased around 15%. Since the VpLAE and its fractions increased the DXR cytotoxicity and decreased its genotoxicity, further studies should be conducted for the development of an adjuvant drug from this extract to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. Moreover, the indiscriminate use of ‘assa-peixe’ by local people should be discouraged.

摘要

Vernonanthura polyanthes，俗称“assa-peixe”，在巴西广泛用于治疗目的，主要用于治疗呼吸道问题。然而，很少有研究调查其化学安全性。通过这种方式，我们首先获得了V. polyanthes叶水提取物 ( Vp LAE) 和三个部分（水；正丁醇、正BF 和乙酸乙酯），我们对这种材料进行了化学表征。然后，使用细胞活力的台盼蓝排除试验和 CometChip 研究了Vp LAE 及其级分对人红细胞和淋巴细胞的细胞毒性潜力。V. polyanthes的植物化学筛选叶揭示了总酚类化合物、类黄酮、单宁、香豆素、萜类化合物和心脏活性杂苷的存在。根据 DPPH 自由基清除方法，n-BF 具有最高的总酚类、类黄酮和单宁含量，因此具有最高的抗氧化活性。虽然Vp LAE 及其部分不会导致红细胞死亡，但细胞获得了棘细胞形式。关于淋巴细胞，Vp LAE 及其组分呈现细胞毒性和遗传毒性。当Vp LAE 或其部分与公认的细胞毒性药物阿霉素 (DXR) 共同治疗时，我们观察到 DXR 对淋巴细胞的细胞毒性增强，但 DXR 基因毒性降低了约 15%。由于副总裁LAE 及其组分增加了 DXR 的细胞毒性并降低了其遗传毒性，应进一步研究从该提取物开发辅助药物以减少化疗的副作用。此外，应劝阻当地人滥用“assa-peixe”。