Evaluation of cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity of Tarenaya aculeata (Cleomaceae) using Allium cepa L.

Abstract

Tarenaya aculeata is a species belonging to the Cleomaceae family, which has been gaining prominence in medicinal studies. In this study, the effect of aqueous extracts and fractions obtained using XAD-2 amberlite resin from the leaves, stems and roots of T. aculeata on the germination and cell proliferation of Allium cepa L. (Amaryllidaceae) seeds was analyzed. A Principal Component Analysis (PCoA) analysis was carried out to observe similarities and dissimilarities in the responses of the relative germination index and mitotic index between the samples, and the chromatograms of the samples were obtained using a high-performance liquid chromatograph (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Leaf extracts (LE) and fractions (LF), in the concentration of 100 µg/mL, showed a reduction in germination index compared to the control, with values of 81.66 ± 6.02 for LE and 80.26 ± 6.87 for LF. Concerning the mitotic index, seeds treated with all the extracts and fractions of T. aculeata acted in a dose-dependent manner. The results obtained about the germination and mitotic index indicated an allelopathic effect of the samples. In the cell proliferation analysis, the steam extracts (SE) and fractions (SF) were the most cytotoxic, presenting a mitotic index value of 9.0 ± 0.2 for SE and 8.4 ± 0.5 for SF, at 1000 µg/mL. The PCoA analysis allowed us to observe a significant difference in the stems and roots compared to the leaves, which were also observed in the chromatograms generated from the different samples. The extracts and fractions did not show genotoxicity and mutagenicity.