Abstract

Citrinin (CIT) is a cytotoxic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic and cardiotoxic metabolite obtained from Penicillium citrinum , that has been increasingly searched as an anticancer drug candidate. In this study, we assessed the antitumor effects of citrinin, using cytogenetic biomarkers for genotoxicity in Sarcoma 180 (S-180) ascitic fluid cells of mice. Citrinin, extracted from P. citrinum acetonitrile extract, was characterized by LC-MS. Cytotoxic assessment was done through using comet (alkaline version) and micronucleus assays. In S-180 cells, CI50 of CIT was 3.77 mu g/mL, while at 12.5 and 100 mu g/mL, CIT was as cytotoxic as doxoru-bicin (2 mu g/mL). At 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mu g/mL, it induced genotoxicity and mutagenicity in S-180 cells, especially at 2 mu g/mL, triggering oxidative damage similar to hydrogen peroxide (10 mM). The antitumor effects were evidenced by a marked increase in S-180 cells apoptosis and necrosis due to clastogenic and/or aneugenic cytogenetic effects (micronucleus formation), as well as by induction of nucleoplasm bridges and nuclear buds, culminating in S-180 apoptosis and necrosis. CIT has potential as drug candidate for antitumor purposesbyinvolving cytogenetic mechanisms.