Antimutagenic effect of Phyllanthus orbicularis against γ-radiation

The present work evaluated the protective effect of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus orbicularis against the mutagenicity of γ-radiation. The extract activity was determined in pre- and post-treatment procedures using Salmonella reversion assay. In either case, the plant extract protected bacterial cells against the mutations induced by γ-radiation, suggesting that it contains antimutagenic compounds which confer protection by at least two different mechanisms: i) as antioxidants targeting the oxidative mutagens induced by γ-radiation and ii) by modulation of the cellular repair enzymes acting on damaged DNA. The results are discussed in relation to the chemopreventive and radioprotective potential of P. orbicularis. Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aires