Evaluation of the Acute Toxicity, Cytotoxicity, and Genotoxicity of Chresta martii (Asteraceae).

Chresta martii (Asteraceae), found in the Xingo region, northeastern Brazil, is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal (GIT) and liver disorders and malaria. However, there are few studies regarding efficacy and safety of use for this species. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine in vivo acute toxicity and in vitro cytotoxicity of organic extracts of C. martii as well as in vivo genotoxicity of its semipurified fraction. Dried aerial parts of C. martii were extracted using three organic solvents (cyclohexane [ECCm], ethyl acetate [EACm], and ethanol [EECm]), and these extracts were examined for acute toxicity (50–2000 mg/kg ip or po) and cytotoxicity (50 μg/ml) in carcinogenic human cell lines (HL-60, NCIH-292, and MCF-7). The EACm, which showed evidence of toxicity (in vivo and in vitro), was fractionated on a silica column, yielding four fractions (F1–F4). The F1 was utilized for genotoxicity (50 mg/kg ip), by in vivo micronucleus (MN) assay. ECCm showed no indication of acute toxicity ...