Genotoxic Potential of Senecio trapezuntinus in Cultured Human Lymphocytes

The in vitro genotoxic potential of methanol extract of Senecio trapezuntinus in human lymphocytes was investigated. Blood samples were obtained from six healthy donors, non-smoking volunteers, who were incubated and exposed to increasing concentrations of Senecio trapezuntinus (0.002, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL). Senecio trapezuntinus induced micronucleus, decreased mitotic and proliferation indexes in human lymphocytes (P<0.01 for 0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL). While the decreases of mitotic and proliferation indexes indicate that Senecio trapezuntinus is an antiproliferative and antimitotic agent, the rise of micronucleus shows that Senecio trapezuntinus at high concentrations may become carcinogenic and genotoxic.