Assessment of the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and genotoxic potential of the Annona muricata leaves and their influence on genomic stability

ABSTRACT

The popular use of Annona muricata L. is based upon a range of medicinal purposes, and the plant exhibits biological activities including antihyperglycemic, antiparasitic, and antitumor activities. The objectives of this study were to examine the antioxidant, cytotoxic, and genotoxic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of A. muricata leaves (AMEs), as well as its effects on genotoxicity induced by methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The results using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay showed that AME was able to scavenge 44.71% of free radicals. The extract significantly reduced the viability of V79 cells in the clonogenic assay at concentrations ≥8 µg/ml. No significant differences in micronucleus (MN) frequency were observed between V79 cell cultures treated with different concentrations of the extract (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 µg/ml) and negative control. When AME concentrations were combined with MMS, data revealed no marked differences from mutagen alone. In contrast, significant reductions in the frequencies of MN were noted in cultures treated with AME combined with H₂O₂ compared to H₂O₂ alone. In vivo studies found no significant differences in the frequencies of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) between animals treated with different AME doses compared to control. Animals treated with AME doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg and MMS exhibited significantly higher frequencies of MNPCE compared to mutagen alone. In conclusion, under current experimental conditions, AME was not genotoxic and exerted a modulatory effect on DNA damage depending upon the experimental conditions. The extract did not influence markedly MMS-induced genotoxicity in in vitro test system. However, the extract increased DNA damage induced by mutagen in mice. In V79 cells, AME reduced the genotoxicity produced by H₂O₂, and this protective effect was attributed in part to the antioxidant activity of AME.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. Dr. Milton Groppo, Department of Botany, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, for the identification of the plant species.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This work was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil; grant # 2013/13903-9). N.O. Acésio was the recipient of a Master’s fellowship from Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil). The authors are grateful to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil) for the fellowships granted.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil; grant # 2013/13903-9). N.O. Acésio was the recipient of a Master’s fellowship from Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil). The authors are grateful to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil) for the fellowships granted.