Hibiscus acetosella extract protects against alkylating agent-induced DNA damage in mice

An Acad Bras Cienc. 2018 Jul-Sep;90(3):3165-3174. doi: 10.1590/0001-3765201820180144.

Abstract

Hibiscus acetosella was shown to exert beneficial effects in humans and animal models however, the effects of this plant on DNA are unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of H. acetosella extracts on alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) in vivo in mice. Initially, we performed analysis of phenolic compounds in extracts of H. acetosella by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Next, mice were divided into 8 groups and treated with distilled water or plant extract (0.1 ml/10 g) by gavage for 15 days, followed by intraperitoneal (ip) administration of saline solution or MMS (40 mg/Kg b.w) on day 16. Caffeic acid, following by gallic acid, gallocatechin, coumaric acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid were found to be present in extracts of H. acetosella leaves. In peripheral blood analysis of groups receiving pretreatment with H. acetosella at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg plus MMS decreased DNA damage as evidenced by comet assay and Micronucleus assays relative to MMS alone. These results suggested that H. acetosella extracts exerted protective effects dose dependent against genotoxicity and mutagenicity induced by alkylating agents.

MeSH terms

  • Alkylating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Antimutagenic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • DNA Damage / drug effects*
  • DNA Damage / genetics
  • Hibiscus / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Methyl Methanesulfonate
  • Mice
  • Mutagens
  • Plant Extracts / administration & dosage
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry*
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Alkylating Agents
  • Antimutagenic Agents
  • Mutagens
  • Plant Extracts
  • Protective Agents
  • Methyl Methanesulfonate