Research Articles

2016  |  Vol: 1(3)  |  Issue: 3 (July- August)

Desmutagenic activity of Cymbopogon citratus and Phyllanthus orbicularis against UVC damage in E. coli

Marioly Vernhes Tamayo¹, Maribel González-Pumariega², Fabiana Fuentes- León², Luis Baly Gil¹, Carlos F. M. Menck³, Angel Sánchez-Lamar²

¹Departamento de Radiobiología, Centro de Aplicaciones Tecnológicasy Desarrollo Nuclear (CEADEN Apartado Postal 6122, Calle 30, # 502, e/5ta y 7ma, Miramar, Playa, C. Habana, Cuba. Fax: 537 2041188.

²Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana. Calle 25 #445 e/I y J. Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba. Tel: +5378328542 Fax: (537) 832-1321.

³Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374 Ed. Biomédicas 2, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Fax: 05508-900.

*Corresponding author:

Prof. Angel Sánchez-Lamar and Dr. Fabiana Fuentes-León

Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad

de La Habana. Calle 25 #445 e/I y J. Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución,

Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.

Abstract

Background: Ozone layer hole entails UV radiation increase on the earth surface, raising the risk of skin diseases, including cancer. The use of vegetal compounds is a new strategy to protect people against UV damages. Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf and Phyllanthus orbicularis Kunt, are Cubans plants with experimentally demonstrated antigenotoxic properties, against several chemical and physical mutagenic agents. There is evidence of its photoprotectives activities acting as desmutagens in ex vivo assays but not at cellular level. Objectives: In this work we tested, in vitro, the genotoxicity and the ability to physically protect against UVC light of aqueous extracts obtained from Cymbopogon citratus (CcE) and Phyllanthus orbicularis (PoE). Materials and methods: The SOS Chromotest in Escherichia coli was used to evaluate in vitro, the genotoxicity and desmutagenicity of increasing concentrations of CcE and PoE. To sense this property, two treatment approaches were used: cells were continuously incubated with plant extracts (pre-co-postreatment), and only after UVC irradiation (postreatment). Results: Both extracts were not genotoxic and physically protected cells from UVC damage. PoE, also protected bacterial cells after irradiation. Results suggest that CcE exert photoprotection only absorbing radiation, while PoE absolved and also enhance different repair mechanisms. Conclusion: Phytocomponentes of Cymbopogon citratus and Phyllanthus orbicularis protect DNA from primarily damage induced by UVC light in E. coli cells. These photoprotective properties are related with their absorptive capacities.

Keywords: plant aqueous extract, photoprotection, SOS Chromotest