Mutagenicity of Hypericum lysimachioides extracts

Abstract

Hypericum (Hypericaceae) species are extensively used in several fields such as traditional medicine, food and crop protection. Despite its usage in many fields, the identification of the genotoxic potential of this herb is still incomplete. In this study, we evaluated genotoxic effects of the petroleum ether, hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extract of Hypericum lysimachioides Boiss. var. lysimachioides by Ames Salmonella/microsome test and SOS chromotest. The mutagenic activity of Hypericum lysimachioides var. lysimachioides extracts was investigated by using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA 100 and also the SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ37 strain, with or without S9 metabolic activation. In this initial report we demonstrated that all extracts of H. lysimachioides var. lysimachioides showed significant mutagenic activity on both strains of Salmonella either with or without S9 mixture. No mutagenicity was found in the SOS chromotest either with or without S9 mixture. These results indicate a significant mutagenicity of the petroleum ether, hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Hypericum lysimachioides var. lysimachioides in vitro. It can be suggested that quercetin and flavonol or their synergistic effects may be main mutagenic agents in the photopharmaceuticals Hypericum lysimachioides var. lysimachioides extract.