Salix alba (white willow) medicinal plant presents genotoxic effects in human cultured leukocytes

Author(s)

Maistro, Edson Luis ^{[1, 2]} ; Terrazzas, Peterson Menezes ^[1] ; Perazzo, Fabio Ferreira ^[3] ; Gaivao, Isabel O'Neill De Mascarenhas ^{[4, 5]} ; Sawaya, Alexandra Christinie Helena Frankland ^[6] ; Rosa, Paulo Cesar Pires ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Programa Posgrad Biol Geral & Aplicada, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Speech & Hearing Therapy Dept, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Environm Chem & Pharmaceut Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Tras Os Montes & Alto Douro UTAD, Dept Genet & Biotechnol, Vila Real - Portugal

^[5] Univ Tras Os Montes & Alto Douro UTAD, Anim & Vet Res Ctr CECAV, Vila Real - Portugal

^[6] Univ Estadual Campinas, Fac Pharmaceut Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-PART A-CURRENT ISSUES; v. 82, n. 23-24 JAN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

Salix alba (SA), commonly known as white willow, is a plant used in folk medicine for the treatment of chronic and acute inflammation, infection, pain, and fever. The phytochemical characterization of the bark extract of this plant indicated that its main component is salicin, a precursor of the anti-inflammatory agent acetylsalicylic acid. Considering the lack of studies evaluating the genetic toxicity and cytotoxic action of SA bark extract on human cells, as well as the chemical characterization of its major phenolic compounds, the present study was designed to (1) investigate the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of SA bark extract on human peripheral leukocyte cells and human hepatoma cell line HepG2, and (2) characterize its major phenolic constituents. The phenolic compounds found were salicylic acid, salicin, salidroside, saligenin, tremulodin, salicoylsalicin, salicortin, and tremulacin. The results using trypan blue staining test showed viability decreases (viability less than 70%) for concentrations of SA extract equal and higher to 200 mu g/ml. Low genotoxic activity (comet assay) was exhibited for 50 and 100 mu g/ml SA extract in human leukocytes. SA did not exert a marked clastogenic/aneugenic effect on leukocytes and HepG2 human cells. Data suggest that the genotoxic effects of SA bark extract occur when it is not metabolized by liver enzymes. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/26882-2 - Cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic assessment of the Crataegus oxyacantha fruit extract: in vitro, in vivo, histological and ultra-structural analysis
• Grantee: Edson Luis Maistro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants