Cytotoxic, genotoxic and cytoprotective potential of aqueous extracts of Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul., Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. and Caesalpinia pulcherrima Sw.

Abstract

The legumenous Caesalpinia pyramidalys, Caesalpinia ferrea and Caesalpinia pulcherrima are widely used in folk medicine in many countries. Thus, this study aimed to cytogenetically evaluate, through the use of meristematic roots cells of Allium cepa, after the exposure times 24 and 48 hours, the cytotoxic potential of aqueous extracts, at concentrations 1 g/500 mL and 1 g/1000 mL, obtained from the inner bark of Caesalpinia pyramidalis, the pod of Caesalpinia ferrea and the leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, and also verify the modulatory potential of these extracts on cellular alterations induced by Paracetamol. The treatment groups used were: negative control – distilled water; positive control – 0.008 mg/mL Paracetamol solution; plant aqueous extract control – water fraction from the plants at concentrations 1 g/500 mL and 1 g/1000 mL; and simultaneous treatment – water fraction from the plants at concentrations 1 g/500 mL and 1g/1000 mL associated with 0.008 mg/mL Paracetamol solution. The Chi-square statistical test was used at 5% probability for data analysis. The results showed that C. pyramidalis and C. ferrea had a significant antiproliferative effect on the cells of the test organism, at both concentrations (1 g/500 mL and 1 g/1000 mL) and at both times of exposure, thus being cytotoxic. All three plants promoted significant cytoprotective effect on the Paracetamol-treated meristematic root cells of A. cepa, thus showing, under the studied conditions, antimutagenic potential. Further studies using these plants should be carried out in order to properly define the cytotoxic and cytoprotective potential of pau-ferro’s pod, catingueira’s inner bark and flamboyazinho’s leaves.