Assessment of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity properties of Uvaria chamae P. Beauv (Annonaceae) and Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae) in mice.

The toxicity profile of medicinal plants is an important preclinical requirement in the development of phytomedicines. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the leaf ofUvaria chamaeP. Beauv (Annonaceae) and stem bark ofMorinda lucidaBenth (Rubiaceae) were investigated in order to provide information on their safety as antimalarial plants. The methanol extract ofU. chamaeand ethanol (70%) extract ofM. lucidawere separately orally administered (125, 250, and 750 mg/kg/day) to mice for 10 consecutive days. Cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg, single dose) and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The mice were injected with colchicine (0.04%) intra-peritoneally 24 h after the last administration of the extracts and the bone marrows harvested. Giemsa-stained slides of bone marrow cells were microscopically assessed for dividing cells to determine the mitotic index (MI) and scored for chromosomal aberrations (CA) according to standard methods.chamaeexhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity. At 750 mg/kg, the MI was significantly (p < 0.05) lower (1.81 ± 0.04) than that of cyclophosphamide (5.83 ± 0.04). The lower the MI, the higher the cytotoxicity. The activity ofM. lucidawas not significantly different (p > 0.05) from that of the negative control. The total CA observed from treatment with both plants at all doses were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than that of control. This study concluded thatU. chamaeshowed both cytotoxicity and genotoxicity whileM. lucidaexerted only genotoxic effect. Nevertheless, the two plants should be used with caution in antimalarial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]