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Induction of structural chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes in vitro by aristolochic acid

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Summary

The medicinal use of Aristolochia clematitis has been known for some time. The main active agent of this medicinal plant is aristolochic acid, a nitrophenanthrenecarbonic acid. Very recently, however, the Federal Health Office withdrew the licence for all drugs containing aristolochic acid, because of the well-founded suspicion that aristolochic acid may be a very potent carcinogen.

We investigated the induction of structural chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) by aristolochic acid in human lymphocytes in vitro. Cells were treated with the agent tested throughout culture time and during the G0 phase of the cell cycle. We tested concentrations over a range of 1 to 20 μg/ml. Both treatment conditions resulted in an increased aberration frequency. The induction of gaps and breaks as well as the induction of SCEs showed a dose-dependent increase. The number of SCEs per metaphase was enhanced by a factor of 2 to 3. If conventional cytogenetic methods had been applied in time, one would have recognized the mutagenic risk of aristolochic acid earlier.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Botanik und Pharmazeutische Biologie der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossgarten 4, D-8520, Erlangen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Gudrun Abel & O. Schimmer

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  1. Gudrun Abel
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  2. O. Schimmer
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Abel, G., Schimmer, O. Induction of structural chromosome aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes in vitro by aristolochic acid. Hum Genet 64, 131–133 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327108

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00327108

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