Antimutagenic and Antigenotoxic Effects of Ruscus aculeatus L. Rhizomes and Roots

Ruscus aculeatus L. (butcher's broom) is widely used for its medicinal virtues, mainly attributed to steroidal saponins such as ruscogenin and neoruscogenin glycosides. Despite its long-standing use, data on its genotoxicity and safety remain limited. The present study aimed to assess the potential antimutagenic and antigenotoxic effects of extracts prepared from the underground parts of R. aculeatus.

Ethanolic (EtOH) extract and decoction (aqueous extract) were prepared from the underground parts of R. aculeatus. Ames, micronucleus (MN), and comet assays were conducted to evaluate (anti)mutagenic and (anti)genotoxic effects. The quantification of ruscogenins in the acid-hydrolyzed extract was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to standardise the plant material.

Total ruscogenin and neoruscogenin content was calculated as 0.71% in the plant material by HPLC analyses. Neither the ethanolic nor the aqueous extract exhibited mutagenicity, while the EtOH extract showed marked antimutagenic activity at the highest concentration in the Ames test. Likewise, no genotoxicity was observed in either of the investigated extracts in the Micronucleus and Comet assays. EtOH extract exhibited antigenotoxic activity in the micronucleus assay, whereas the aqueous extract (decoction) provided no significant protection. The comet assay revealed no antigenotoxic activity for either the EtOH extract or the decoction. Overall, the underground parts of R. aculeatus displayed neither intrinsic mutagenicity nor genotoxicity, whereas the EtOH extract exhibited selective genoprotective effects.

The EtOH extract showed remarkable antimutagenic and antigenotoxic effects. This study constitutes the first report on the genoprotective and antimutagenic effects of R. aculeatus. From a toxicological perspective, the use of the underground parts of R. aculeatus is considered safe.