Hibiscus sabdariffaL. is a plant of the Malvaceae family, commonly known as roselle.H. sabdariffais known to contain antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, antiobesity, insulin resistance reduction, antihypertensive, and skin cancer chemopreventive properties. This study evaluated the effects ofH. sabdariffaaqueous extract against cyclophosphamide (CPA, 25 mg/Kg) induced damage to DNA in male Wistar rats by micronucleus test. Samples ofH. sabdariffacalyx were obtained in the municipality of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The aqueous extract was prepared by infusion and each animal received a daily dose of 400 mg/Kg by gavage for 15 consecutive days of treatment. The presence of anthocyanins was confirmed by ferric chloride test and phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography, with emphasis on the identification of rutin. The animals were sacrificed by deepening of anaesthesia to obtain bone marrow and determination of the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. The group treated with the aqueous extract ofH. sabdariffarevealed a 91% reduction in micronucleus frequency when compared with the positive control group. Under the conditions tested,H. sabdariffaL. presented a protective effect to CPA-induced damage to DNA of the treated animals, and it is a potential candidate as a chemopreventive agent against carcinogenesis.

This study investigated the chemical composition, immunomodulatory and antioxidant activities, and histopathological analysis of mice tissues treated with methanolic extract from R. marina poison. Marinobufagin, telecinobufagin and bufalin were identified in the chemical profile. The biochemical results demonstrated an effect between doses in the period of 7 days, an immunomodulatory effect was observed regarding the production capacity of interleukin (IL)-12p70 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α at 7 and 30 days, respectively. The lower dose suggests better bioactivity to the treated animal than the higher dose. Histopathological analyses of the lung, heart, kidney and liver showed tissue damage in all organs, mainly in the lung, and were proportional to the dose and the treatment period. We observed that the treatment modulated cytokine production, and therefore this effect may be related to the tissue damage observed. This study demonstrates a positive effect in the antioxidant and immune system, indicating that the molecules found in the extract have biotechnological potential.