Phytochemical characterization and cytogenotoxic activity of leaves of Centratherum punctatum Cass

Centratherum punctatum (Asteraceae), known as Brazilian bachelor’s button, is used in folk medicine to treat liver problems, intestinal discomfort, and ulcers. The study aims to characterize the ethanolic extract (EE) of C. punctatum leaves, evaluate its antioxidant activity, and assess its cytogenotoxic and chemoprotective effects in Allium cepa and Drosophila melanogaster cells. The EE was characterized by qualitative phytochemical prospecting, TLC, ESI-IT/MSn, HPLC-PDA, and isolation by column chromatography. Antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) and total phenol content (TPC) were quantified. Cytogenotoxicity and the protective effect of EE were evaluated in the A. cepa and the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) bioassays at concentrations of 3.9; 15.6; 62.5 and 250 µg/mL. The phytochemical prospecting of EE revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavanones, alkaloids, terpenes, and flavonoids. ESI-IT/MSn identified 15 compounds, HPLC-PDA also confirmed the same classes of metabolites, and the isolate was the triterpene acetyl aleuritolic acid. The result of DPPH, ABTS, and TPC was 142.10 ± 2.15 µg/mL; 623.94 ± 38.38 mM Trolox/g, and 77.78 ± 1.19 mg EAG/g, respectively. In A. cepa and SMART, none of the EE concentrations were cytogenotoxic. EE showed a protective effect (pre, simultaneous, and post-treatments) against methyl methanesulfonate damage at all concentrations in A. cepa and antigenotoxic activity (simultaneous) in SMART at 15.6; 62.5, and 250 µg/mL against doxorubicin damage. The findings of the present study demonstrate that C. punctatum is a promising source of compounds with antioxidant and chemoprotective properties.