Toxicological aspects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. associated with its phytochemical profile

Campomanesia xanthocarpa leaves are used as tea to treat diarrhea, inflammation, and hypercholesterolemia. Some pharmacological studies noted its beneficial uses of C. xanthocarpa; however, few investigations examined the toxicological profile of this plant. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, genotoxic, and mutagenic potential of an aqueous extract of C. xanthocarpa leaves (CxAE), and potential protective effects against oxidative damage. Phytochemical constituents were determined using HPLC, and antioxidant effect in vitro was measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay. Genotoxic effects and chromosomic mutations were assessed using comet assay and micronucleus (MN) test in Wistar rats treated with CxAE at 250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured in several tissues. CxAE induced mutations in TA98, TA97a, and TA102 strains. However, in the presence of metabolic activation, data were negative for all strains tested. Lack of mutagenicity was also observed in the MN test. This extract did not induce DNA damage, except when the highest concentration was used. DNA oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) decreased in blood after treatment with CxAE. Lipid peroxidation levels were reduced while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in kidneys. The inhibitory concentration of CxAE required to lower DPPH levels to 50% was 38.47 ± 2.06 μg/ml. In conclusion, frameshift and oxidative mutations were observed only in the absence of metabolic activation which may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids such as quercetin. It is of interest that CxAE also showed protective effects against DNA oxidative damage associated with presence of ellagic acid, a phenolic acid with antioxidant activities. CxAE did not induce in vivo mutagenicity, suggesting that this extract poses a low toxic hazard over the short term.