Genotoxicity evaluation of Tagetes erecta L.

Tagetes erecta L. is an annual plant from the Asteraceae family widely consumed in gastronomy and Traditional Mexican Medicine (TMM) practices. This plant is rich in phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and coumarins. The present study aimed to evaluate the subtoxic concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of T. erecta (HAETe) by cytokinesis blocking micronucleus technique (CBMN) to assess chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes.

Five different concentrations of HAETe were evaluated, and a total of 1,000 binucleated (BN) cells were assessed to identify the presence of micronuclei (MNi), the frequency of MNi cells were calculated. DNA damage events were scored in BN cells and include MNi, a biomarker of chromosome breakage and/or whole chromosome loss, nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs), a biomarker of DNA misrepair and/or telomere end- fusions, and nuclear buds (NBUDs), a biomarker of elimination of amplified DNA and/or DNA repair complexes, determination [1].

The frequency of MNi has been widely recognized as a biomarker for chromosomal damage and has shown a significant correlation with the incidence of cancer. Preliminary results from this study did not show an increase in MNi occurrence in cells treated with HAETe compared to the control group. These findings provide initial evidence suggesting the lack of genotoxic activity of T. erecta. Given the widespread consumption in gastronomy and TMM, further investigation of its safety profile should be conducted.

 

MissingLinkText

• References

• 1 Fenech Michael. “Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus Cytome Assay.”. Nature Protocols 2007; 2 (05) 1084-1104

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023