Antimutagenic activity of two medicinal phytoextracts in somatic cells of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity6 @entity273 @entity2915 @entity32946 @entity238
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: We used the wing somatic assay in @entity238 to test the hypothesis that two phytoextracts from Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol (Cecropiaceae) and Equisetum myriochaetum Schlecht. et Cham (Equisetaceae), which are used in folk medicine to treat @entity6 , could detoxify the mutagen @entity273 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Third instar larvae from standard (ST) and high-bioactivation (HB) crosses were chronically exposed to different concentrations of the phytoextracts. @entity273 was used to induce oxidative stress and was chronically tested in both crosses. @entity32946 activity was measured in larvae of both strains 48   h after treatment with @entity273 . A pretreatment protocol was devised to test the antimutagenic potency of the medicinal extracts. RESULTS: The present study showed that neither of the phytoextracts were genotoxic in @entity238 . Interestingly, the antioxidant enzyme activity levels were different between the larvae. @entity273 resulted in a significant genotoxic effect in the ST cross, whereas a detoxification of @entity273 was found in the @entity2915 . Thus, @entity32946 was stimulated in the @entity2915 , which was indicative of a cellular defense mechanism mounted against a xenobiotic hazard. We found that the percentage of inhibition of spots produced by E. myriochaetum was much higher than that induced by Cecropia obtusifolia. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These results are in agreement with the uses of these phytoextracts in traditional medicine. Indeed, the lack of genotoxicity and the antimutagenic activity observed for both phytoextracts validates their use as a therapeutic modality to treat @entity6 @entity1 . Moreover, these extracts are suitable for consumption as teas and/or phytomedicines.
