Assessment of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities of the aqueous solution of the Caesalpinia ferrea (tul.) Martius fruit (jucá)

Introduction:  The inner bark of Caesalpinia ferrea , popularly known as juca, has been used in alternative medicine to treat wounds, bruises, asthma and chronic cough. Furthermore, the fruits of this species are used as antidiarrheals, decongestants and in healing, and their roots as antipyretics. Objective: In order to assess the possible genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities of the aqueous solution of the juca fruit. Materials and Methods: This study used the Ames test in Salmonella typhimurium strains and the micronucleus test in mouse bone marrow. Results: The Ames test results for the juca solution were not mutagenic in the Salmonella typhimurium TA100 strain in any of the doses tested. However, a protective effect against the action of sodium azide was shown in the TA100 strain at all the doses used. The micronucleus test indicated that the juca aqueous solution showed no mutagenic or antimutagenic effect.