Aqueous Extracts of Lippia turbinata and Aloysia citriodora (Verbenaceae): Assessment of Antioxidant Capacity and DNA damage

Abstract

The aim of the present work was to make a contribution to the knowledge of aqueous extracts of Lippia turbinata and Aloysia citriodora (Verbenaceae; infusion and decoction) in relation with the establishment of its antioxidant activity and lack of DNA damage, for its potential use in therapeutics. The cytogenotoxic profile was evaluated through genotoxic biomarkers such as mitotic index, cellular proliferation kinetics, sister chromatid exchanges, single-cell gel electrophoresis assay, and micronucleus test in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures. No statistical differences were found (P > .05) between control and exposed cultures, even between both aqueous extracts. The total antioxidant capacity was shown to be higher in the decoction than in the infusion and both aqueous extracts protected against protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation, the decoction being more efficient than the infusion (P < .005). These results suggest the safe use of these medicinal plants as chemoecologic agents in therapeutics.

Keywords

biomarkers Verbenaceae antioxidant activity

Introduction

Medicinal herbs are some of our oldest medicines. Nowadays increasing use is a clear evidence of public interest in having alternatives to conventional medicine. However, they have not been tested with required methods for conventional pharmaceuticals.¹

Currently the Verbenaceae family is composed of 100 kinds and approximately 2000 species of wide geographical distribution, including tropical, subtropical, and moderate regions. In Argentina, 26 kinds are described in 191 species of which 54 are endemic.² The family is characterized for including aromatic species mostly used in the traditional and popular medicine. Among the most important, we found Lippia (poleos) and Aloysia (cedrones) species. Thus, both Lippia and Aloysia species are known to show insecticidal, antiplasmodial, antibacterial, and antifungal activities as well as hypotensive and muscle relaxant effects.^{3

–6}

Aloysia citrodora Palau and Lippia turbinata Griseb, vulgarly known as cedrón and poleo, respectively, are herbal species widely consumed in Argentina and commonly prepared as aqueous extracts (decoction or infusion)_. ⁷ Both species spontaneously grow in South America. Cedrón (Aloysia triphylla (L’Her) Britton, formerly classified as Aloysia citriodora (Cav) Ort, Lippia citriodora (Ort) HBK, Verbena citriodora Cav, and Verbena triphylla (L’Her)) has a long history of folk uses as infusions for the treatment of asthma, cold, fever, colic, diarrhea and indigestion, insomnia, and anxiety.⁷ ^,8 It is believed that its essential oil and phenolic compounds (flavonoids) are responsible for these properties.⁷ Likewise, L turbinata Griseb is a very branchy, aromatic shrub 0.5 to 1.5 m high and its leaves are used in folk medicine mainly as digestive, although several other uses had been reported (diuretic, abortive, emmenagogue, stomachic, tonic, and stimulant).⁹

The chemical composition of the essential oils from the leaves of both plants have also been studied and reviewed.^7,8,10 However, there is few literature data related to the chemical composition of infusion and/or decoction extracts.^{9
–11} Thus, Carnat et al revealed large amount of polyphenolic compounds in A citriodora's infusion and Wernert et al, described the presence of polyphenols (hydroxycinnamic acids and flavons) in both species and higher complexity and concentration of total phenols, tannins, and flavonoids in A citriodora leaves than those obtained from L turbinata leaves.^9,11

Natural antioxidants have generated considerable interest in preventive medicine and in the food industry. Many of them have been identified as a free radical or active oxygen scavengers. Within these polyphenolic compounds, phytochemicals with a large distribution in nature have this antioxidant activity.¹² It is very interesting to study the role of reactive oxygen species in several diseases and to evaluate the potential antioxidant protective effect of natural compounds on affected tissues. For considering a natural compound or a drug as an antioxidant, it is necessary to investigate their antioxidant properties in vitro and then to evaluate their antioxidant functions in biological systems.

The measurement of cytogenetic alterations in vitro is considered an initial step in the risk assessment procedures for genotoxic agents. Short-term genetic toxicology tests are useful tools for determining toxic effects in the genetic material of cells. For this reason, they have been proposed for the identification of potential chemical carcinogens in order to protect public health.^{13

–16} Within the biological end points, mitotic index (MI) and replication index (RI) were used as indicators of adequate cell proliferation, micronuclei (MN) for genotoxic evaluation,¹⁷ and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) as a sensitive indicator of DNA damage and/or subsequent DNA repair (chromosomal instability).¹⁸ Beside, single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) was used to detect as much breakage doubles like simple chain, although the nature and the mechanism of the test are not clarified totally.¹⁹

Taking into account previous results from our group, where the quantitative analysis of total phenols, tannins, and flavonoids were developed for both species in decoction and infusion form, as well as preliminary studies of antioxidant activity (2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethyllbenzo-tiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt [ABTS] method), the present study is aimed at evaluating the antioxidant capacity through lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation of the commonly employed aqueous extracts (infusion and decoction) of A citrodora and L turbinata, and assessing the development of a potential cytotoxic/genotoxic in order to ensure a relatively safe use of these medicinal plants.

Materials and Methods

Plant Materials

Lippia turbinata and A citriodora were provided by the Department of Calingasta, from Cuyo, collected at Barreal, San Juan, Argentine (31° 40′ 730″ S, 69° 29′ 577″ W). The voucher specimens of the plants were kept in the Herbarium Museum of Pharmacobotany “Juan A. Dominguez,” School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of the University of Buenos Aires (BAF 9018, 9019).

Preparation of Aqueous Extracts

Decoction and infusion (extemporaneous aqueous preparations) were prepared according to the Argentine Pharmacopeia.²⁰ For preparing decoction, air-dried aerial parts of the plants (5 g) were boiled in water (100 mL) for 10 minutes (100°C); while for preparing infusion, boiling water was added to the herb material and left undisturbed for 10 minutes. Aqueous extracts were prepared considering daily consumption in our country (5 g), with total absorption and 5 L in volume (1 mg/mL final concentration in culture). Besides, in order to consider a potential genotoxic effect, we reduced the concentration 10 times (0.1 mg/mL final concentration in culture). Both preparations were made at a concentration of 5% (w/v) and were sterilized through a 0.22-μm filter and stored at −20°C. Replicates of the same batch were evaluated.

Chemicals

RPMI 1640 medium, fetal bovine serum (FBS), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), low-melting point agarose, and normal melting point agarose were purchased from Gibco BRL (Argentine). Potassium chloride (purity >99%), methanol (purity >99%), glacial acetic acid (purity >99%), Giemsa solution, H₂O₂, NaCl (purity >99%), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO; purity >99%), and NaOH (purity >99%) were from Merck (Argentine). Bromodeoxyuridine, colcemid (purity >95%), cytochalasin B (purity >98%), ethidium bromide (purity >95%), acridine orange (purity >95%), disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic (Na₂EDTA; purity >99%), trizma (purity >99%), triton X-100, Hoechst 33258, and mitomycin C (purity >98%) were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, Argentine. Heparin was from ABBOT (Argentine) and Ficoll-Paque was purchased from GE Healthcare (Argentine). Trolox was purchased from Aldrich Chemicals, Milwaukee, Wisconsin). 2,2′-Azo-bis (2-amidinopropane) (ABAP) was obtained from Acros Organics (New Jersey).

Study Participants

The School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of the University of Buenos Aires Ethical Committee established the regulations for the development of the study and informed consent was given by each individual prior to the beginning of the evaluation.

Phytochemistry Analysis

Qualitative analysis of polyphenols

Qualitative analysis of polyphenols was performed by 2-dimensional thin-layer chromatography on cellulose as described by Hagerman et al.²¹ The presence of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins was analyzed according to the method of Markham.²²

Determination of total polyphenols content

Total polyphenols were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu procedure according to Makkar et al.²³ Aliquots (50 μL) of aqueous infusions and decoctions were transferred into test tubes and their volumes were made up to 0.5 mL with distilled water. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, 0.25 mL, and 20% aqueous sodium carbonate solution, 1.25 mL, were added and the test tubes were vortexed. After 40 minutes, absorbance was measured at 725 nm against blank.

The amount of total polyphenols was expressed as mg tannic acid/g dry plant material. Calibration curve of tannic acid was developed. All measurements were done in triplicate.

Determination of total tannins

Total tannin content was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu procedure, after the removal of tannin by precipitation with bovine serum albumin (BSA; 0.2 mol/L acetate buffer pH 5.0, 0.17 mol/L sodium chloride, and 1.0 mg/mL BSA fraction V). One milliliter of BSA was added to 1 mL of the extract and vortexed. After 15 minutes at room temperature, the tubes were centrifuged at 5000g. Aliquots of supernatant (50 μL) were transferred into the test tubes and nonabsorbed phenolics were determined as described for total phenols. Calculated values were subtracted from total polyphenol contents and total tannin contents expressed as mg tannic acid/g dry plant material. All measurements were done in triplicate.

Determination of proanthocyanidins

Proanthocyanidins were determined by butanol-HCl assay according to the method of Porter et al.²⁴ Aliquots (0.50 mL) of extracts were transferred into the test tubes and 3.0 mL of butanol–HCl reagent (butanol: HCl, 95:5 v/v) and 0.1 mL 2% ferric reagent (2% ferric ammonium sulfate in 2 mol/L HCl) were added. Test tubes were vortexed and put into a boiling water bath for 60 minutes. After cooling, the absorbance was recorded at 550 nm against blank.

Proanthocyanidins were expressed as optical density at 550 nm. All measurements were done in triplicate.

Determination of flavonoids

0.1 mL of each extract were added to 1.4 mL of deionized water and 0.50 mL of flavonoids reactive: 133 mg crystalline aluminum chloride and 400 mg of crystalline sodium acetate dissolved in 100 mL of extracting solvent (140 mL methanol, 50 mL water, and 10 mL acetic acid). After 30 minutes at room temperature, the absorbance was recorded at 430 nm against blank.²⁵ Calibration curve of rutin was developed. The amount of flavonoids was calculated as mg rutin/g dry plant material.

Cytototoxic and Chromosome Instability Biomarkers (MI, RI, and SCE)

Lymphocyte Cultures and Cell Harvesting

Duplicate human peripheral blood cultures were prepared according to the method of Carballo et al with modifications.²⁶ Briefly, 1 mL of each of the blood samples were placed in a sterile flask containing 7.5 mL RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 1.5 mL fetal bovine serum, 120 μL PHA, and 32 μmol/L bromodeoxyuridine. The prepared extracts were added in 2 different concentrations (0.1 and 1 mg/mL) at the beginning of the cultures, which were then incubated for 72 hours at 37°C. Mitomycin C (0.025 μmol/L) was used as a positive control. Fifty minutes before harvesting, 100 μL of colcemid (10 μg/mL) was added to each culture flask. For harvesting, cells were centrifuged at approximately 800 to 1000 rpm for 10 minutes. The supernatant was removed and 5 mL of a prewarmed (37°C) 0.075 mol/L KCl hypotonic solution were added. Cells were resuspended and incubated at 37°C for 45 minutes. The supernatant was removed by centrifugation, and 5 mL of methanol glacial acetic acid (3:1) were added. The fixative was removed and the procedure was repeated twice. To prepare the slides, 5 drops of the fixed cell suspension were dropped on clean glass slides and air-dried. Cells were stained following a modified Fluorescence plus Giemsa technique²⁷ Slides were stained for 20 minutes in a 0.05% (w/v) Hoechst 33258 solution, rinsed with tap water and placed under a near-ultraviolet (UV) lamp for 90 minutes, covered with Sorensen buffer, pH 6.8, and stained with a 3% Giemsa solution in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) for 8 minutes.

We chose 72 hours as the total duration of the experiment to record the effects of the tested agent on all phases of the cell cycle and to establish their impact on overcoming the G₀ barrier and entering the cell cycle by mitogen-induced lymphocytes.

Microscopic Evaluation

Mitotic Index (MI)

The MI was calculated as the proportion of metaphase for 2000 cells, in each preparation, donor, and concentration.

Cell Proliferation Kinetics (CPK)

The proportion of first (M1), second (M2), and third (M3) dividing cells was scored from 100 consecutive metaphases from each duplicate 72-hour culture for each herb, preparation, donor, and concentration. The RI was calculated according to the formula (RI = [M1 + 2M2 +3M3]/100).²⁸

Sister Chromatid Exchanges

The frequency of SCE was observed in 35 to 50 harlequin-stained metaphases, each with 46 centromeres for each herb, preparation, donor, and concentration. The results were expressed as the frequency of SCE per metaphase.

Single-Cell Gel Electrophoresis

Cell viability

Cell viability was determined using the ethidium bromide/acridine orange assay described by Mc Gahon et al.²⁹ Briefly, 4 μL of dye-mix solution (100 μg/mL ethidium bromide and 100 μg/mL acridine orange) was added to 100 μL of cell suspension. Cells were observed with a 40× objective using a fluorescent microscope. At least 200 cells were counted, and the results expressed as percentage of viable and nonviable cells.³⁰

Alkaline comet assay

The procedure described by Singh et al was used with modifications.³¹ Each sample was processed with a duplicate including negative and positive (H₂O₂ 50 μmol/L) controls. Aqueous extracts (infusion and decoction) were assayed in 2 different concentrations (0.05 and 0.5 mg/mL) and were added at beginning of the experiment. Fifty microliters of freshly prepared cell suspension was added to 950 μL RPMI 1640, incubated for 2 hours at 37°C, and then centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 5 minutes. Pellets were mixed with 200 μL of 1% low-melting point agarose solution at 37°C and were spread onto slides precoated with 1% normal melting point agarose. The lysis solution (2.5 mol/L NaCl, 100 mmol/L Na₂EDTA, 10 mmol/L Trizma, 1% Triton X-100 and DMSO 10%, and pH 10) allows the rupture of cellular and nuclear membranes of embedded cells. The slides were submerged in cold, freshly prepared solution and left overnight at 4°C. Afterward, they were placed in a cold electrophoresis alkaline buffer (10 N NaOH, 200 mmol/L Na₂EDTA, and pH >13) and the embedded cells were exposed for 20 minutes to allow DNA unwinding. Electrophoresis was performed in the same buffer at 25 V and 300 mA (0.75 V/cm) for 20 minutes at 4°C. The slides were washed with neutralization buffer (Tris 0.4 mol/L, pH 7.5) and DNA was stained with 50 μL of ethidium bromide (0.02 mg/mL) and observed using a fluorescent microscope at 40×. All the procedures were done in darkness to avoid additional DNA damage. Totally 100 randomly selected cells were analyzed visually on a scale 0 to 4 (categories depending on DNA damage level). Damage index comet assay (DICA) was calculated according to the formula DICA = 1n1 + 2n2 + 3n3 + 4n4, where n1 to n4 represent the number of cells with 0 to 4 damage level.

Micronucleus Test (Cytokinesis-Blocked Micronucleus)

Human lymphocytes were isolated using Ficoll-Paque density gradients. Briefly, blood was diluted 1:1 with PBS and layered onto Ficoll-Paque (4:3). The blood was centrifuged and the lymphocyte layer was removed and washed twice in PBS, and then washed with RPMI 1640 media. Cell density was counted with a hemocytometer. Typically, each culture consisted of an initial density of 1 × 10⁶ cells in 1 mL of culture medium. The culture medium consisted of RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% FBS and PHA (10 μg/mL final concentration). Negative and positive controls (mitomycin C 0.025 μmol/L) were developed. The lymphocyte cultures were grown in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ at 37°C in polystyrene plates. Aqueous extracts were added to the cultures at 24 hours after PHA stimulation, followed by the addition of cytochalasin B (4.5 μg/mL) at 44 hours and harvested at 72 hours after the beginning of the culture.³⁰ At 72 hours, lymphocytes cultures were spun directly (600 rpm, 5 minutes) onto glass slides using a cytocentrifuge (Shandon, Cytospin 3, Microlat). Slides were allowed to air-dry before methanol fixation at room temperature for 10 minutes. Slides were stored at −20°C in a sealed box. Before scoring, the slides were stained with Giemsa 10%.

1000 binucleated lymphocytes (those that have undergone one mitotic division) were scored for the number of MN in accordance with recently published validation of the MN assay.³² Scoring was performed by 2 scorers, with 10% of the slides being rescored.

Antioxidant Capacity

On Biological Systems

Spontaneous chemiluminescence (CL) of brain homogenates

Rat brains were obtained from female Wistar rats weighing 150 ± 20 g. Rats were maintained in cages in a standardized environment and fed a laboratory diet and water ad libitum. Rats were killed by decapitation and the essentially blood-free brains were excised and placed in an ice-cold glass. The tissues were homogenized (1:5) in 30 mmol/L potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 120 mmol/L KCl and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes at 4°C. The supernatants were immediately diluted 3 times their volume in the same buffer. Portions (3 mL) of the dilute brain homogenate were transferred to 15-mL glass vials for luminescence studies.

The CL of brain homogenates was measured in a Packard liquid scintillation counter, at room temperature, in the out-of-coincidence model.

Spontaneous brain CL was measured in the presence or absence of infusion or decoction of different aliquots of poleo and cedrón in the reaction medium, this allows the calculation of 50% CL inhibitory concentration (IC50). The emission was expressed in counts per minute (cpm)/mg of protein.³³

Sample preparation

Rat brain homogenates were subjected to oxidation by incubating in the presence of ABAP hydrochloride, which starts generating radicals in aqueous phase. Incubation was performed by mixing 1 mL of homogenate, 500 μL of ABAP 200 mmol/L at 37°C, and 200 μL of a dilution of infusion or decoction 1/100 of cedrón or 1/25 of poleo. A final volume of 2 mL was assessed with phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 120 mmol/L of KCl. After 2 hours, the oxidation products of lipids or proteins were analyzed using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance or protein carbonylation (PC) techniques, respectively.

Thiobarbituric acid reactive products of lipid peroxidation

One microliter of samples prepared as described above or the buffer (blank) was diluted with 100 μL butylated hydroxytoluene and 1 mL of trichloroacetic acid to precipitate proteins. The precipitate was removed by centrifugation and the supernatant was incubated with 0.67% thiobarbituric acid for 10 minutes at 100°C and centrifuged for 10 minutes. A volume of 1 mL of thiobarbituric acid is added to the supernatant. The mixture was heated for 1 hour at 100°C. The absorbance was measured at 535 nm (∊ = 156 mmol L⁻¹ cm⁻¹).³⁴

Protein carbonylation

One milliliter of sample obtained as described above was used to assess the oxidation of proteins. The results are expressed as the percentage inhibition of protein oxidation.

Protein carbonyl groups were detected with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), which leads to the formation of a stable 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (DNP). The DNP absorbs UV light so that the total carbonyl content of a protein can be quantified by a spectrophotometric assay at 370 nm. The measurement of protein carbonyls following their covalent reaction with DNPH was pioneered by Levine and has become the most widely utilized measure of protein oxidation in several diseases.³⁵

Table 1.

Phytochemistry Analysis of A citriodora and L turbinata

Phytochemistry Analysis	A citriodora		L turbinata
Phytochemistry Analysis	Infusion, X ± SD	Decoction, X ± SD	Infusion, X ± SD	Infusion, X ± SD
Total phenols quantification (mg tannic acid/g of dry material)	51.85 ± 3.17	51.35 ± 3.49	10.62 ± 0.62	13.36 ± 0.26
Total tannins quantification (mg tannic acid/g of dry material)	5.95 ± 0.65	8.90 ± 0.90	1.60 ± 0.17	1.98 ± 0.20
Condensed tannins quantification (proanthocyanidins; mg tannic acid/g of dry material)	Not detected	Not detected	Not detected	Not detected
Total flavonoids quantification (mg tannic acid/g of dry material)	20.82 ± 1.80	20.67 ± 1.70	5.95 ± 0.60	8.68 ± 0.90

Table 2.

Mitotic Index, Replication Index, and Sister Chromatid Exchanges in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Treated With Aqueous Plant Extracts (Infusion and Decoction)^a

Extracts	Treatment	Cc	Cytogenotoxic Biomarkers
			MI, X ± SD		RI, X ± SD		SCE, X ± SD
			1	2	1	2	1	2
Negative control			3.35 ± 1.20	2.33 ± 0.28	1.47 ± 0.05	1.43 ± 0.18	3.28 ± 1.75	4.83 ± 3.00
Cedrón	Inf	Cc1	2.39 ± 0.00	3.08 ± 0.31	1.54 ± 0.08	1.38 ± 0.02	3.83 ± 1.45	6.55 ± 3.09
Cedrón	Inf	Cc2	2.35 ± 0.21	2.18 ± 0.16	1.51 ± 0.01	1.29 ± 0.06	3.88 ± 1.40	5.92 ± 1.88
Poleo	Inf	Cc1	2.95 ± 0.22	3.23 ± 0.52	1.39 ± 0.14	1.70 ± 0.02	3.83 ± 2.06	7.15 ± 3.72
Poleo	Inf	Cc2	3.20 ± 0.99	2.20 ± 0.48	1.34 ± 0.05	1.60 ± 0.04	3.72 ± 1.73	6.88 ± 3.36
Negative control			4.30 ± 0.28	3.75 ± 0.21	1.72 ± 0.04	1.43 ± 0.08	3.14 ± 1.72	3.41 ± 1.46
Cedrón	Dec	Cc1	4.00 ± 0.28	4.90 ± 0.28	1.60 ± 0.14	1.35 ± 0.08	3.72 ± 1.88	3.88 ± 2.12
Cedrón	Dec	Cc2	3.80 ± 0.28	4.55 ± 0.07	1.72 ± 0.11	1.30 ± 0.04	4.14 ± 1.86	4.62 ± 2.63
Poleo	Dec	Cc1	5.20 ± 0.40	4.25 ± 1.48	1.86 ± 0.11	1.54 ± 0.11	3.88 ± 1.80	4.78 ± 2.18
Poleo	Dec	Cc2	4.10 ± 1.56	5.00 ± 0.14	1.76 ± 0.05	1.31 ± 0.20	3.24 ± 1.73	3.57 ± 1.86

Abbreviations: Cc1, 0.1 mg/mL; Cc2, 1 mg/mL; Dec, decoction; Inf, infusion; MI, mitotic index; RI, replication index; SCE, sister chromatid exchange.

^a SCE-positive control: 12.8 ± 3.64 (individual 1); 13.98 ± 5.24 (individual 2). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) P > .05.

On Extracts

Total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP)

Total reactive antioxidant potential was measured by CL in a Luminoskan V 1.2-0 liquid scintillation counter. The reaction medium consisted of 20 mmol/L ABAP, 40 μmol/L luminol, 0.05 μmol/L and 0.50 μL of infusion or decoction of cedrón and poleo, respectively. The system is calibrated with different concentrations of Trolox (0.25-0.50 μmol/L). A comparison of the induction time after the addition of Trolox or different aliquots of infusion and decoction allows the calculation of the total antioxidant capacity (TRAP) as the equivalent of Trolox concentration necessary to produce the same induction time.^36,37

Scavenging of 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethyllbenzo-tiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation

The reaction mixture consisted of ABTS 0.36 mmol/L and ABAP 18 mmol/L in 50 mmol/L phosphate buffer. After 45 minutes of incubation at 45°C, different aliquots of the decoction and infusion were added to 3 mL of the solution. The absorbance was read at 734 nm at fixed time (3 or 4 minutes), stirring constantly.³⁸

Scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical

The method consists of measuring the consumption of DPPH (stable radical) spectrophotometrically through decreased absorbance at 515 nm. Different aliquots of the decoction or infusion were added to 3 mL of the solution prepared by dissolving 2.5 mg of DPPH in 100 mL of methanol. The absorbance was read at 515 nm at fixed time (10 minutes), stirring constantly.³⁹

Statistical Analysis

Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed with Student t test for independent observations. Statistical analysis of genotoxic biomarkers was performed using 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). In the cases of paired samples, the differences between treatments were evaluated by paired t test. A value of P < .05 was considered as statistically significant for all the end points evaluated.

Results

Phytochemistry Analysis

Qualitative analysis of polyphenols—Chromatography

Both infusion and decoction show the polyphenol profiles characterized by caffeic acid derivatives (hydroxycinnamic acids) and flavonoids (flavones). The origin of flavone as an orange-colored complex with natural product (NP) reagent suggests the presence of O-dihydroxy groups on the B-ring of the flavonoid molecule. Besides, the compounds that have only 1 OH group originating as yellow complexes with the same reagent (NP) are detected.

Quantitative analysis

Table 1 showed that both extracts have high-value total phenols and total flavonoids. The low values found for total tannins are compatible with the absence of proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins).

Cytogenotoxic profile

Table 2 shows the biomarkers evaluated in lymphocytes cell cultures were exposed to infusion and decoction of cedrón and poleo. No significant differences in the frequency of mitosis and cell proliferation kinetics represented against the RI were detected (P > .05) when compared with negative control.

The analysis of chromosomal instability through SCE did not show modifications when compared with control cultures and between treatments.

The evaluation of genotoxic damage biomarker (MN) showed the same behavior for both decoctions and concentrations without statistically significant differences with negative control although both donors exhibit different susceptibility. In both donors, positive control show significant difference (P < .0001; Table 3).

Table 3.

Micronuclei Frequency in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Treated With Aqueous Plant Extracts (Infusion and Decoction)^a

	Poleo (Inf)	Cedrón (Inf)	Poleo (Dec)	Cedrón (Dec)
Treatment	Ind 1, X ± SD		Ind 2, X ± SD
Negative C	3.74 ± 1.7		5.06 ± 0.98
Positive C	61.45 ± 5,8		85.82 ± 11.5
Cc1	4.00 ± 1,1	3.80 ± 1.4	7.70 ± 3.8	6.97 ± 2.4
Cc2	3.60 ± 1.5	3.20 ± 1.9	5.37 ± 1.8	4.40 ± 3.5

Abbreviations: Ind., Individual; Cc1, 0.1 mg/mL; Cc2, 1 mg/mL; Dec, decoction; Inf, infusion; Negative C, negative control; Positive C, positive control: mitomycin C, 0.025 mmol/L.

^a Analysis of variance (ANOVA) P > .05.

When we analyze cell viability in order to develop comet assay, we observe 80% viable cells in control and treated samples. The results of the comet analysis in peripheral blood lymphocytes are shown in Figures 1 and 2 for poleo and cedrón, respectively. All the groups exhibited a high proportion of type I comets, whereas types II, III, and IV comets were not found in any experimental unit except in positive control, which was characterized by types II and III comets. No significant difference was found between negative control and treated cells.

Figure 1.

Damage index in peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with infusion and decoction of poleo. *Paired t test P < .05.

Figure 2.

Damage index in peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with infusions and decoctions of cedrón. *Paired t test P < .05.

Antioxidant capacity

In all the assays used for the determination of the antioxidant capacity, aqueous extracts infusion and decoction (5% w/v) were diluted to final concentration of 3 mg of dry material/mL for poleo and 1 mg/mL for cedrón.

Brain homogenates and plasma were used to determine the effect on lipid peroxidation and to evaluate the protection over PC, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was quantified by spontaneous brain CL and TBARS.

Autooxidation of brain was determined by the CL method, in the presence or absence of infusion or decoction of aqueous extracts. Table 4 shows the percentage of CL at 90 minutes in the presence of infusion or decoction in the reaction medium. The same procedure was applied using different volumes of infusion or decoction. This allows calculating the volume that inhibited 50% of CL (IC50). Among the tested preparations, decoction showed the lowest value of IC50.

Table 4.

Spontaneous Brain Chemiluminescence and 50% Chemiluminescence Inhibitory Concentration in the Presence of Poleo and Cedrón (Infusion–Decoction) in the Reaction Medium^a

	Control	Cedrón Decoction	Cedrón Infusion	Poleo Decoction	Poleo Infusion
CL (cpm/mg protein)	723 ± 41	318 ± 25^b	463 ± 30^b	591 ± 41	634 ± 39
IC50 (μg/mL)	–	1.1	1.8	4.0	6.0

Abbreviations: CL, spontaneous chemiluminescence; IC50, 50% chemiluminescence inhibitory concentration.

^a Values are expressed as mean ± standard error.

^b P < .001.

Table 5 shows 2 model antioxidants as positive control catechin and quercetin. A relative value of the scavenging capacity is provided by the concentration of antioxidant or aqueous extract required to decrease PC or TBARS to 50% of that observed in the absence of additives.³³

Table 5.

Concentration of Antioxidant or Aqueous Extract Required to Decrease PC or TBARS to 50% of That Observed in the Absence of Additives (IC50)^a

	IC50
	Cedrón Decoction (μg/mL)	Cedrón Infusion (μg/mL)	Poleo Decoction (μg/mL)	Poleo Infusion (μg/mL)	Catechin (μg/mL)	Quercetin (μg/mL)
PC	16.8 ± 0.9	17.1 ± 1.0	92.3 ± 5.0	220.5 ± 11.4	6.1 ± 0.3	13.5 ± 0.7
TBARS	21.9 ± 2.1	29.7 ± 2.7	98.6 ± 4.5	306.9 ±11.7	2.0 ± 0.1	1.5 ± 0.1

Abbreviations: IC50, 50% chemiluminescence inhibitory concentration; PC, protein carbonylation (control value: 0.78 ± 0.08 nmol/mg protein); TBARS, thiobarbituric acid test (control value: 0.92 ± 0.10 nmol/mg protein).

^a Values are expressed as mean ± standard error.

The protection over PC was performed on normal plasma oxidized with ABAP and the results show an inhibition of 96% and 94% for decoction and infusion of cedrón, respectively, whereas the poleo produced an inhibition of 72% for decoction and 29% for infusion (control value: 0.78 ± 0.08 nmol/mg protein). TBARS determination in brain homogenates oxidized with ABAP was decreased 74% for decoction and 54% for infusion of cedrón. Decoction of poleo produced an inhibition of 65% and infusion of poleo 21% (control value: 0.92 ± 0.10 nmoles/mg protein; Table 6).

Table 6.

Percentage of Inhibition of TBARS and Protein Carbonylation With Infusion or Decoction of Poleo and Cedrón^a

	% Inhibition
	Cedrón Decoction	Cedrón Infusion	Poleo Decoction	Poleo Infusion
PC	96 ± 4	94 ± 5	72 ± 3	29 ± 2
TBARS	74 ± 4	54 ± 3	65 ± 4	21 ± 3

Abbreviations: PC, protein carbonylation (control value: 0.78 ± 0.08 nmol/mg protein); TBARS, thiobarbituric acid test (control value: 0.92 ± 0.10 nmol/mg protein).

^a Values are expressed as mean ± standard error.

Table 7 shows the total in vitro antioxidant activity evaluated as TRAP, ABTS, and DPPH. Values are higher in decoction of both aqueous extracts.

Table 7.

Total Antioxidant Activity Evaluated as TRAP, ABTS, and DPPH

Antioxidant Activity Assays (In Vitro)	Cedrón Decoction	Cedrón Infusion	Poleo Decoction	Poleo Infusion
TRAP (μmoles Trolox/g dry material)	482 ± 16	362 ± 18	78 ± 20	75 ± 20
ABTS (μmoles ascorbic acid/g dry material)	516 ± 20	358 ± 14	95 ± 40	67 ± 20
DPPH (μmoles ascorbic acid/g dry material)	232 ± 14	230 ± 10	65 ± 20	57 ± 40

Abbreviations: TRAP, total reactive antioxidant potential; ABTS, (2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzo-tiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt; DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl.

Discussion

The use of plants for healing purposes is becoming increasingly popular, as they are believed to be beneficial and free from side effects. However, most of the information available on many medicinal herbs has no supporting scientific data and their use as medicaments is based solely on traditional folk usage that has been perpetuated down through the generations.⁴⁰ Nevertheless, some of them can cause adverse effects or have the potential to interact with other medications.⁴¹

Our results in relation to phytochemical studies showed that infusions and decoctions of both medicinal plants are characterized by the presence of hydroxicinamic acids and flavonoids (flavones). Chromatograms from infusion and decoction of A citriodora leaves have polyphenol profiles characterized by the presence of cinnamic acids and flavones (luteolin and apigenin derivatives), and these compounds are responsible for their antioxidant activity. When a comparative analysis was performed between both medicinal plant extracts, the total phenol and total flavonoids showed to be higher in the extract of A citriodora than that of L turbinata.

Mitotic index and RI are used as indicators of adequate cell proliferation biomarkers. Mitotic index measures the proportion of cells in the M-phase of the cell cycle and its inhibition could be considered as cellular death or a delay in the cell proliferation kinetics.²⁸ We did not observe modifications in relation to MI, consequently a relation with a cytotoxic profile is absent, in our experimental conditions. On the other hand, RI did not change with any of the aqueous extract concentrations assayed, showing that the extracts do not induce any modifications in the cellular proliferation kinetics.

Sister chromatid exchanges represent a symmetrical exchange of complementary DNA strands between chromatid within a single chromosome_. ⁴² When SCE/cell was analyzed, we could not find a significant increase in its frequency, so it could be concluded that aqueous extracts do not induce chromosomal instability.

In this experimental design, micronuclei assay is the only biomarker that allows the simultaneous evaluation of aneugenic and clastogenic effects easily detected in interphase cells. The speed and easy usability of MN analysis and the non-requirement of metaphase cells made this assay very popular.⁴³ Micronuclei frequency assay in human lymphocytes from peripheral blood cultures has been shown to be a sensitive and useful index method to evaluate genotoxicity.⁴⁴ In our experimental design, this biomarker showed the same performance than others, without significant differences from control cultures for both extracts (P > .05).

The alkaline comet assay is increasingly used in industrial genotoxicity testing in vitro^{45
–47} and is also becoming an important tool for evaluating the genotoxic potential of compounds in vivo.^48,49 In the literature, this test is being considered a fast method to predict the genotoxic damage of an agent in experimental designs, as much in alive as in vitro.⁵⁰ The results obtained with the administration of extract per se did not produce any statistically significant change in the parameter when compared to the negative control. Further studies are needed in order to show that our results may possibly represent the first evidence that both extracts (infusion and decoction) could have an effective antigenotoxic activity in an in vitro system using comet assay.⁴⁸ ^,51,52 In vivo previous studies in A citriodora agree with our findings_. ^53,54

Much attention of preventive medicine research is focused on natural antioxidants. This interest refers not only to isolation and identification of new biologically active molecules by the pharmaceutical industry but also to the emergent public interest in using crude plant extracts, such as infusion for self-medication. In a normal diet, the intake of herbs may contribute significantly to the total intake of plant antioxidants and even be a better source of dietary antioxidants than many other food groups.⁵⁵

Scavenging of different types of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, mostly free radicals, is thought to be one of the main mechanisms of the antioxidant action exhibited by phenolic phytochemicals. In this study, 3 different radical scavenging models were used, showing that decoction and infusion had varying degrees of scavenging actions against the radicals used. All tests used showed that infusion and decoction of both extracts have antioxidant properties, decoction being more efficient than infusion.

Several studies are focused in the relationship between the antioxidant activity of the phenolic compounds as hydrogen donating free radical scavengers and their chemical structure. It has been shown that the presence of the –CH=CH–COOH group in the hydroxylated cinnamates ensures greater H-donating ability and subsequent radical stabilization than the carboxylate group in the hydroxy benzoates_. ⁵⁶

The physiological relevance of antioxidant capacity of both extracts was evaluated by the possible protection against protein oxidation in plasma and lipid peroxidation of brain homogenates measured as TBARS or spontaneous CL. Both extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation evaluated as spontaneous brain CL and TBARS, and protein oxidation evaluated as PC. In both cases, it appears that decoction produces a higher percentage of inhibition than infusion (P < .005). Furthermore, cedrón has proven to be 4 times more effective than poleo. An important remark to be made is that decoction seemed to be more efficient in protecting lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation than the infusion. Furthermore, A citriodora has proven to be 4 times more effective than L turbinata, suggesting their interest as ingredients for antioxidants formulations since cedrón presents higher values than poleo, which are correlated with the greatest content of polyphenols in the leaves of cedrón.⁹

Conclusion

Recently, interest has increased considerably in finding naturally occurring antioxidant for use in food or medicinal materials to replace synthetic antioxidants, which are being restricted due to their side effect such as carcinogenicity.⁵⁷ In this article, we assess the antioxidant properties as well as the absence of genotoxic effect of infusion and decoction on both aqueous extracts. These results would suggest the benefits of using both kinds of preparations as natural source of antioxidants and possible protective action against DNA damage.

Footnotes

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: UBACYT- 20020100100123 2011-2014

References

Mathews

Lucier

Fisher

. Medicinal herbs in the United States: research needs. Environ Health Persp. 1999;107(10):773–778.

Zuloaga

Morrone

. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares de la República Argentina. Editorial Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Buenos Aires, Argentina; 1999:1136–1170.

Wächter

Valcie

Franzblau

. Antitubercular activity of triterpenoides from Lippia turbinata. J Nat Prod. 2001;64(1):37–41.

Benzi

Murrayb

Ferrero

. Insecticidal and insect-repellent activities of essential oils from Verbenaceae and Anacardiaceae against Rhizopertha dominica . Nat Prod Commun. 2009;4(9):1287–1290.

Oliva M de

Carezzano

Gallucci

. Antimycotic effect of the essential oil of Aloysia triphylla against Candida species obtained from human pathologies. Nat Prod Commun. 2011;6(7):1039–1043.

Zeni

Zomkowski

Dal-Cim

Maraschin

Rodrigues

Tasca

. Antidepressant-like and neuroprotective effects of Aloysia gratissima: investigation of involvement of l-arginine-nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;137(1):864–874.

Pascual

Slowing

Carretero

Sánchez Mata

Villar

. Lippia: traditional uses, chemistry and pharmacology: a review. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;76(3):201–214.

Santos-Gomes

Fernández-Ferreira

Vicente

MAS

. Composition of the essential oil from flowers and leaves of Vervain (Aloysia ttrhiphylla (L’Herit.) Britton) grown in Portugal. J Essent Oil Res. 2005;17 (1):73–78.

Wernert

Wagner

Gurni

. Estudio de polifenoles de infusiones y cocimientos de hojas de “Cedrón” (Aloysia citrodora Palau) y “Poleo” (Lippia turbinata Griseb.)–Verbenaceae. BLACPMA. 2009;84 (4):308–311.

10.

Sartoratto

Machado

ALM

Delamerlina

. Composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from aromatic plants used in Brazil. Braz J Microbiol. 2004;35 (4):275–280.

11.

Carnat

Fraisse

. The aromatic and polyphenolic composition of lemon verbena tea. Fitoterapia. 1999;70(1):44–49.

12.

Valentão

Fernándes

Carvahlo

. Studies on the antioxidant activity of Lippia citriodra infusion: scavenging effect on superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical and hypochlorus acid. Biol Pharm Bull. 2002;25(10):1324–1327.

13.

Solomon

Borrow

Goddard

. Chromosome aberrations and cancer. Science. 1991;254(5035):1153–1160.

14.

Rabbitts

. Chromosomal translocations in human cancer. Nature. 1994;372(6502):143–149.

15.

Mitelman

. Chromosomes, genes and cancer. CA Cancer J Clin. 1994;44(3):133–135.

16.

Tucker

Preston

. Chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, aneuploidey, sisters chromatid exchanges and cancer risk assessment. Mutat Res. 1996;365(1-3):147–159.

17.

Scott

Galloway

Marshall

. Genotoxicity under extreme culture conditions. Mutat Res. 1991;257(2):147–205.

18.

Bakopoulou

Mourelatos

Tsiftosglou

. Sister chromatid exchange, chromosomal aberrations and delay in cell-cycle kinetics in human lymphocytes induced by dental composite resin eluates. Mutat Res. 2008;649(1-2):79–90.

19.

Collins

. The comet assay for DNA damage and repair: principles, applications, and limitations. Mol Biotechnol. 2004;26(3):249–261.

20.

Codex Medicamentario Argentino. Farmacopea Nacional Argentina. 6^a Edición, 1978. Ministerio de Salud. Buenos Aires, Argentina; 1979:469–471.

21.

Hagerman

Harvey-Mueller

Makkar

HPS

. Quantification of Tannins in Tree Foliage. A Laboratory Manual. Vienna: FAO/IAEA; 2000:21–24.

22.

Markham

. Techniques of Flavonoids Identification. London, UK: Academic Press; 1982:1–113.

23.

Makkar

HPS

Bluemmel

Borowy

. Gravimetric determination of tannins and their correlations with chemical and protein precipitation methods. J Sci Food Agric.1993;61 (2):161–165.

24.

Porter

Hrstich

Chan

. The conversion of procyanidins and prodelphinidins to cyanidin and delphinidin. Phytochemistry. 1986;25 (1):223–230.

25.

Maksimovic

Malencic

Covacevic

. Polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity of Mayadis stigma extracts. Bioresour Technol. 2005;96(8):873–877.

26.

Carballo

Martinez

Mudry

. Nitroimidazole derivatives: non-randomness sister chromatid exchanges in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. J Appl Toxicol. 2008;29(3):248–254.

27.

Perry

Wolf

. New Giemsa method for the differential staining of sister chromatid. Nature (London). 1974;261(5471):156–161.

28.

Rojas

Herrera

Sordo

. Mitotic index and cell proliferation kinetics for the identification of antineoplastic activity. Anti-Cancer Drugs. 1993;4(6):637–640.

29.

Mc Gahon

Martín

Bissonnette

. The end of the (cell) line: methods for the study of apoptosis in vitro. In Cell Death, L M Schwartz and B A Osborne (Eds.). Methods in Cell Biology, Academic Press, 1995;46:153–185.

30.

Kirsch-Voders

Sofune

Aardema

. Report from the in vitro micronucleus assay working group. Mutat Res. 2003;540(2):153–163.

31.

Singh

McCoy

Tice

. A simple technique for quantitation of low levels of DNA damage in individual cells. Exp Cell Res. 1988;175(1):184–191.

32.

Fenech

. The in vitro micronucleus technique. Mutat Res. 2000;455(1-2):81–95.

33.

Lissi

Cáceres

Videla

. Visible chemiluminescence from rat brain homogenates undergoing autoxidation. Effect of additives and products accumulation. J Free Rad Biol Med. 1986;2(1):63–69.

34.

Bird

Draper

. Comparative studies on different methods of malondialdehyde determination. In Enzyme purification and related techniques: Part C Jakoby

(Ed.), Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press, 1984;105:299–305.

35.

Levine

. Carbonyl modified proteins in cellular regulation, aging and disease synthetase. J Free Radic Biol Med. 2002;32(9):790–796.

36.

Lissi

Pascual

Del Castillo

. Luminol luminescence induced by AAPH thermolysis. Free Rad Res Commun. 1992;17(5):299–312.

37.

Evelson

Travacio

Repetto

Escobar

Llesuy

Lissi

. Evaluation of total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) of tissue homogenates and their cytosols. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2001;388(2):261–266.

38.

Campos

Lissi

. Kinetics of the reaction between 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) derived radical cations and phenols. Int J Chem Kinetic. 1997;29 (3):219–224.

39.

Sánchez-Moreno

Larrauri

Saura-Calixto

. Free radical scavenging capacity of selected red, rosé and white wines. J Agric Food Chem. 1999;79(4):1301–1304.

40.

Serpeloni

Bisarro dos Reis

Rodrigues

. In vivo assessment of DNA damage and protective effects of extracts from Miconia species using the comet assay and micronucleus test. Mutagen. 2008;23(6):501–507.

41.

Zinck

Chaffin

Herbal health products. What family physicians need to know. Am Fam Physician. 1988;58(5):1064–1065.

42.

Swierenga

SHH

Heddle

Sigal

. Recommended protocols based on a survey of current practice in genotoxicity testing laboratories, IV. Chromosome aberrations and sister-chromatid exchange in Chinese hamster ovary, V79 Chinese hamster lung and human lymphocyte cultures. Mutat Res. 1991;246 (2):301–322.

43.

Ghosh

Basu

Singh

. Evaluation of cell types for assessment of cytogenetic damage in arsenic exposed population. Mol Cancer. 2008;7:45. doi:10.1186/1476-4598-7-45.

44.

Corvi

Albertini

Hartung

. ECVAM retrospective validation of in vitro micronucleus test (MNT). Mutagenesis. 2008;23(4):271–283.

45.

Hartmann

Kiskinis

Fjaellman

Suter

. Influence of cytotoxicity and compound precipitation on test results in the alkaline Comet assay. Mutat Res. 2001;497(1-2):199–212.

46.

Kiskinis

Suter

Hartmann

. High throughput comet assay using 96-well plates. Mutagen. 2002;17(1):37–43.

47.

Giannotti

Vandin

Repeto

. A comparison of the in vitro Comet assay with the in vitro chromosome aberration assay using whole human blood or Chinese hamster lung cells: validation study using a range of novel pharmaceuticals. Mutagen. 2002;17 (2):163–170.

48.

Tice

Agurell

Anderson

. The single cell gel/Comet assay: guidelines for in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicology testing. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2000;35(3):206–221.

49.

Sasaki

Sekihashi

Izumiyama

. The comet assay with multiple mouse organs: comparison of comet assay results and carcinogenicity with 208 chemicals selected from the IARC monographs and U.S. NTP Carcinogenicity Database. Rev Toxicol. 2000;30(6):629–799. Review.

50.

Fairbairn

Olive

O’Neill

. The comet assay: a comprehensive review. Mutat Res. 1995;339(1):37–59.

51.

Olive

Banáth

. The comet assay: a method to measure DNA damage in individual cells. Nature Protocols. 2006;1 (1):23–29.

52.

Hartmann

Agurell

Beevers

. Recommendations for conducting the in vivo alkaline Comet assay. Mutagen. 2003;18(1):45–51.

53.

Zamorano-Ponce

Fernández

Vargas

Rivera

Carballo

. Protective activity of cedron (Aloysia triphylla) infusion over genetic damage induced by cisplatin evaluated by the comet assay technique. Toxicol Lett. 2004;152(1):85–90.

54.

Zamorano-Ponce

Morale

Ramos

. Anti-genotoxic effect of Aloysia triphylla infusion against acrylamide-induced DNA damage as shown by the comet assay technique. Mutat Res. 2006;603(2):145–150.

55.

Dragland

Senoo

Wake

Holte

Blomhoff

. Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants. J Nutr. 2003;33(5):1286–1290.

56.

Djeridane

Yousfi

Nadjemi

. Phenolic extracts from various Algerian plants as strong inhibitors of porcine liver carboxylesterase. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2006;21(6):719–726.

57.

Ito

Fukushima

Tsuda

Shirai

Tatematsu

Imaida

. Modification of chemical carcinogenesis by antioxidants. Princess Takamatsu Symp. 1983;14 (1):381–389.