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Planta Med 2013; 79(11): 939-945
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328717
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Evaluation of the Genotoxic and Antigenotoxic Potential of the Alkaloid Punarnavine from Boerhaavia diffusa

Vaibhav Aher
1   Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Assam, India
2   Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Pronobesh Chattopadhyay
1   Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Assam, India
,
Danswrang Goyary
1   Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Assam, India
,
Vijay Veer
1   Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Defence Research Laboratory, DRDO, Assam, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 24 February 2013
revised 29 April 2013

accepted 14 May 2013

Publication Date:
03 July 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Boerhaavia diffusa is a traditional herbal medicine extensively used in the Ayurveda and Unani forms of medicine in India and many parts of the world. Different parts of the plant are used as an appetizer, alexiteric, eye tonic, for flushing out the renal system, and to treat blood pressure. This study was conducted to evaluate the in vivo genotoxic and/or antigenotoxic potential of punarnavine, a separated alkaloid from the root of B. diffusa using toxicity studies (OECD guideline 474, 1997). The genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of punarnavine was assayed using the comet assay on lymphocytes, liver, spleen, brain, and bone marrow as well as using the micronucleus test in bone marrow cells including the in vitro chromosomal aberration test. The results demonstrated that none of the tested doses of punarnavine showed genotoxic effects by the comet assay, or clastogenic effects in the micronucleus test. On the other hand, for all cells evaluated, the three tested doses of punarnavine promoted inhibition of DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide. Based on these results, we concluded that punarnavine, an alkaloid from the Boerhaavia diffusa root, has no genotoxic or clastogenic effects in our experimental conditions. However, it caused a significant decrease in DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide. It is suggested that the antigenotoxic properties of this alkaloid may be of great pharmacological importance and beneficial for cancer prevention.

Key words

punarnavine - antigenotoxic effects - comet assay - micronucleus test - chromosome aberration test - Boerhaavia diffusa - Nyctaginaceae
 

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