Planta Med 2015; 81 - PM_199
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565576

Protective effects of Dioscorea membranacea rhizome ethanolic extract against doxorubicin-induced genotoxicity in human lymphocytes in vitro

T Ratanavalachai 1, S Thitiorul 2, A Itharat 3, N Runraksa 1, S Ruangnoo 3
  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • 2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
  • 3Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand

Dioscorea membranacea rhizome is commonly used as an ingredient in traditional Thai remedies for inflammatory diseases and cancers. Our previous study reported that the ethanolic extract of Dioscorea membranacea rhizome (EEDM) was selectively cytotoxic to lung and breast cancer cell lines [1]. However, the underlying mechanisms of its action are still unclear. One possible mechanism might be their anti-genotoxic activities. To investigate the anti-genotoxic potential of the EEDM, in vitro chromosome aberration assay was conducted, testing EEDM against doxorubicin (DXR), a potent genotoxic compound. Genotoxicity indicated by chromatid-type and chromosome-type aberrations and cytotoxicity as shown by mitotic index were analyzed. Human lymphocytes were pretreated with various concentrations of EEDM (0.005 – 50 ng/ml) followed by 0.1 µg/mL DXR. Plain RPMI and DXR were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. The results demonstrated that EEDM pretreatment at 0.5 ng/ml significantly decreased DXR-induced chromatid-type aberrations by a factor of 4.8. Other EEDM pretreatments at 0.05 and 5 ng/ml also tended to decrease DXR-induced chromatid-type aberrations, although they were not statistically significant. Chromosome-type aberration and cytotoxicity was not detected at all EEDM pretreatments. The outcomes revealed that in vitro EEDM pretreatment at a specific dose has anti-genotoxic properties against genotoxic hazards such as DXR in human cells. Therefore, EEDM might be useful not only for anti-cancer treatment but also for cancer prevention. Further in vivo anti-genotoxic studies are needed to confirm this in vitro results.

Acknowledgements: This study was supported by Research Fund, National Research University Project of Thailand and Office of Higher Education Commission and Thammasat University, Thailand.

References:

[1] Itharat A, Houghton PJ, Eno-Amooquaye E et al. J Ethnopharmacol 2004; 90: 33 – 38.