In Vivo Protective Activity of Styrax camporum Hydroalcoholic Extract against Genotoxicity Induced by Doxorubicin and Methyl Methanesulfonate in the Micronucleus and Comet Assays

Styrax camporum Pohl is a tall shrub or a tree with small white flowers, which grows in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais and is popularly used for the treatment of gastroduodenal diseases. Considering this last fact, the aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of S. camporum hydroalcoholic extract and its influence on genotoxicity induced by doxorubicin and methyl methanesulfonate in Swiss mice using the micronucleus and comet assays, respectively. The animals were treated by gavage with different doses of the extract (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight). For antigenotoxicity assessment, different doses of the S. camporum extract were administered simultaneously with doxorubicin (micronucleus test; 15 mg/kg) and methanesulfonate (comet assay; 40 mg/kg). The results showed that the S. camporum extract itself was not genotoxic in the mouse micronucleus or comet assay. The number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes was significantly lower in animals treated with the S. camporum extract and doxorubicin when compared to animals treated only with doxorubicin. In the comet assay, the S. camporum extract, at the doses tested, significantly reduced the extent of DNA damage in liver cells induced by methanesulfonate. The putative activity of the active compounds of S. camporum extract may explain the effect of this plant on genotoxicity induced by doxorubicin and methanesulfonate.