Elsevier

Fitoterapia

Volume 77, Issues 7–8, December 2006, Pages 538-545
Fitoterapia

Antimutagenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Maytenus krukovii bark

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2006.06.009Get rights and content

Abstract

The hydroalcoholic extract of Maytenus krukovii bark was investigated for its in vitro mutageno-protective activities by means of the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay. The extract showed an inhibitory effect in both T98 and T100 strains against the mutagenic activity of promutagen 2-aminoanthracene but was not protective against directly acting mutagens sodium azide and 2-nitrofluorene. When tested as a radical scavenger and antioxidant it produced a dose-dependent inhibition. The extract did not show significant antibacterial properties, and was weakly active against dermatophyte and phytopathogenic fungi, but inhibited the growth of phytopathogen Pithyum ultimum.

Introduction

Human cells are constantly exposed to reactive oxygen radicals generated by a number of biotic and abiotic factors such as irradiation, atmospheric and food pollutants or byproducts of metabolic processes. When the exposure overwhelms endogenous preventive systems, cells are exposed to a potentially harmful load of oxidants, leading to various free-radical-induced noxious effects. These include, among others, oxidation of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, which may subsequently determine mutagenesis and diseases related to DNA damage [1].

In particular, exposure to environmental mutagens is of great health concern and experimental data suggest a relationship between chemical mutagenesis and carcinogenesis [2]. Given that many mutagens act on the cell via its active metabolites or by generating free radicals, it is therefore suggested that supplementation of natural antioxidants could ameliorate the harmful effects of oxidative processes in the living organism and both experimental and clinical data have been provided to prove this. Thus, in the constant quest for new therapeutic and commercial herbal products, several natural compounds and phytocomplexes have been tested for their ability to prevent oxidation and mutagenesis [3], [4], [5]. As a consequence, the market of healthy and herbal nutraceuticals constantly addresses its attention to new plant sources offering antioxidant or mutageno-protective efficacy and their use and positive image among the consumers is spreading.

Maytenus krukovii A.C. Sm (Maytenus chuchuhuasha Raymond–Hamet and Colas) (Celastraceae) is an amazonian canopy tree indigenous to the tropical rainforests of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru [6], [7]. Both for its botanical characteristics and therapeutic use it appears strictly related to M. laevis and M. macrocarpa. It grows 30 m high and has large leaves (10–30 cm) and small, white flowers. Its tough, heavy, reddish-brown bark is the main source of a crude drug locally called Chuchuhuasi, which hydroalcoholic extract is widely used in ethnopharmacology as a remedy for arthritis, rheumatism and back pain [6], [8]. Chuchuhuasi is also reported to be an astringent, antitumor, antiasthmatic, fertility-regulating agent and is used as well to treat stomach problems [6], [8]. The entire Maytenus genus is characterized by an almost unique variety of phytochemicals, mostly triterpenes, flavonols, condensed tannins and sesquiterpene alkaloids with a very uncommon ansamacrolide-like skeleton ring [9], [10], [11], [12]. M. krukovii makes no exception on this regard [13], [14]. A number of Maytenus species have been reported for their antitumor, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive activity and the presence of phenolic metabolites such as condensed tannins [6], flavonoids [15] and phenolic triterpenes [16], [17] could justify the widespread popular use of some species as antiinflammatory and antiulcerogenic remedies and could also be related to some reports of antimutagenic activity [18]. Condensed tannins and catechins are, in fact, known to be protective against various pathologies including cancer [19], [20], thus the consumption of foods or herbal remedies rich in those compounds, e.g. Camelia sinensis infusions, has been proposed as a way to prevent some kinds of cancers [21]. Moreover, antimicrobic activity has been detected in some Maytenus species [22], but at present no data on this regard are available on M. krukovii.

Thus, the aim of this work was the assessment of antimutagenic, antioxidant and antimicrobial efficacy of M. krukovii bark hydroalcoholic extract, which is traditionally used in Andean folk medicine and commercially sold as natural remedy.

Section snippets

General

All chemicals and solvents were of analytical grade and supplied from Sigma-Aldrich (Steinheim, Germany). TA98, TA100 Salmonella typhimurium strains were purchased from Molecular Toxicology Inc. (Boone, NC, USA).

Plant

M. krukovii bark was identified by Dr. Fritz Choquecillo and Dr. Katia Peralta in the Herbarium of the Nacional Mayor University de San Marcos, Lima. Vouchers of the crude drug were deposited in Dipartimento delle Risorse Naturali e Culturali of the University of Ferrara with code CHU1.

Extract preparation

Antioxidant properties

In view of the differences among the test systems available, the results of a single assay can give only a suggestion on the protective potential of phytochemicals. Therefore, the use of more than one method is highly advisable. Among the methods that can be used for the evaluation of the antioxidant activity, few of them (TEAC, DPPH, PCL, ORAC) are useful to determine the activity of both hydrophilic and lipophilic species, thus ensuring a better comparison of the results [34]. When screened

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