PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE CHEMOPREVENTIVE PROFILE OF GARCINIA XANTHOCHYMUS

Abstract

Garcinia species have been reported to possess compounds with antibacterial, antioxidant, apoptotic, hepatoprotective and others biological effects. The Garcinia xanthochymus Hook. f. (Clusiaceae) is a native plant from some Asian countries and is the most cultivated species in Brazil. Also, has been described to possess some in vitro anti carcinogenic compounds. Because of these characteristics, in the present study it was assessed the ability of extracts, fractions and a biflavonoidmorelloflavone, obtained by bio guided assay from G. xanthochymus, in their chemo-preventive role by quinona reductase 1 (QR1) induction and genotoxic/antigenotóxic damage. To evaluate the chemo-preventive profile of compounds extracted from G. xanthochymus, the quinone reductase assay and Comet assay were performed. It was observed a doubling of the quinone reductase enzyme activity by ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions, and morelloflavone (p < 0.001). However, by the Comet assay was observed the genotoxicity of morellofavone, ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions. Regarding anti-genotoxicity, the same fractions and morelloflavone caused DNA damage in post-treatment. Our results suggest that although there is induction of quinone reductase enzyme from morelloflavone, ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions isolated from G. xanthochymus, these have genotoxic profile in some concentrations, showing that the widespread use of the plant could bring harm. Additional tests are needed to evaluate the toxicity power of the G. xanthochymus.