The Phytoecdysteroid β-Ecdysone Is Genotoxic in Rodent Bone Marrow Micronuclei and Allium cepa L. Assays
Abstract
Ethnaopharmacologial relevance In South America, the β-ecdysone ecdysteroid has been found in species of the genus Pfaffia Mart. Due to the similar morphology of its roots to the Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (Korean ginseng), some species of this genus has been known as Brazilian ginseng and have been used as tonic and aphrodisiac, as well as for the treatment of diabetes and rheumatism.Aim of the study Here we report a cytogenotoxic evaluation of β-ecdysone (a natural ecdysteroid found in plants) in Rodent Bone Marrow Micronuclei and Allium cepa Assays.Materials and methods Three β-ecdysone (pure) concentrations (based in human therapeutic dosage) were used in the Micronucleus Assay. The animals were treated during two consecutive days. Micronucleated cells were counted in 2000 polychromatic erythrocytes per animal. For A. cepa L. Assay, one β-ecdysone concentration was analyzed. The onions bulbs were exposed for 24h.Results The Micronucleus Assay showed genotoxic effects for all treatments, expressed by an increase of micronucleated cells. In A. cepa L. Assay, cell abnormalities associated to the malfunction/non-formation of mitotic spindle (aneugenic effect) and chromosomal bridges (clastogenic effect) were observed.Conclusions The results indicate a cytogenotoxic activity of β-ecdysone. Therefore, the popular use of Pfaffia and others species containing β-ecdysone should be considered with caution.
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In vivo investigations of Rhaponticum carthamoides include cognitive function effects, metabolic regulation, stress management, and cytotoxicity.
“These investigations include a wide range of activities, such as cognitive function effects, metabolic regulation, stress management, and cytotoxicity [44,133,134,135,136,137,138,139,140,141,142].”
From Ecdysterone and Turkesterone—Compounds with Prominent Potential in Sport and Healthy Nutrition (2024) · cites this paper as [139]
The latest report has been about the genotoxicity of the 0.0823 mg/kg lowest effective dose on rat bone marrow in 2016.
“The latest report has been about the genotoxicity of the 0.0823 mg/kg lowest effective dose on rat bone marrow in 2016 [109].”
From Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action: Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Anti-Aging Compound? (2025) · cites this paper as [109]
There are no observable indications or symptoms of toxicity for Rhaponticum carthamoides, indicating a wide margin of safety.
“There are no observable indications or symptoms of toxicity, indicating a wide margin of safety [44,133,134,135,136,137,138,139,140,141,142].”
From Ecdysterone and Turkesterone—Compounds with Prominent Potential in Sport and Healthy Nutrition (2024) · cites this paper as [139]
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Ecdysterone and Turkesterone—Compounds with Prominent Potential in Sport and Healthy Nutrition
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“The latest report has been about the genotoxicity of the 0.0823 mg/kg lowest effective dose on rat bone marrow in 2016 [109].”
Influential
- Authors
- Neves, C. S., Gomes, S. S. L., dos Santos, T. R., de Almeida, M. M., de Souza, Y. O., Garcia, R. M. G., Otoni, W. C., Chedier, L. M., Viccini, L. F., & de Campos, J. M. S.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (BR)
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa (BR)
- Venue
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-01
- Volume
- 177
- Pages
- 81-84
- ISSN
- 0378-8741 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2173381906
- Cited by
- 8
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 0.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (publishedVersion)
- Americanae (AECID Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- FAPEMIG (CAG-APQ-01036-09, CRA-APQ-02452-10, CBB-APQ-01772-11)
- National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (480675/2009-0, 303201/2010-0, 307206/2010-6)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Phytochemical Studies and Bioactivities
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Plant Toxicity and Pharmacological Properties
- Keywords
- 20-hydroxyecdysone, phytoecdysteroids, genotoxicity, cytogenetic toxicity, Brazilian ginseng, micronucleus test, onion, aneugenic effects, clastogenic effects, chromosomal bridges, herbal medicine safety
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Biological Assay, Chromosome Aberrations, DNA Damage, Ecdysterone, Male, Micronucleus Tests, Rats, Wistar, Onions, Chromosomes, Plant, Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective, Rats
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