Cytotoxicity of Uncaria Tomentosa Solution on L929 Cell Culture Assessed by MTT Test

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of Uncaria Tomentosa tincture (Cat's Claw) aiming to establish a inexpensive option to the traditional anti fungal agents for the treatment of denture stomatitis.
Methods: We employed the experimental cellular culture method using hamster fibroblast (L929) and performed the cytotoxicity test with the Uncaria Tomentosa solution (diluted with DMSO), during 24 hours, at different concentrations (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%) through MTT quantitative analysis. The results were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. In addition, comparing the obtained results with the negative control, the solutions were classified in levels according to its cytotoxic effect in: 0- not cytotoxic (inhibition below 25%), 1- discreetly cytotoxic (inhibition between 25% and 50%), 2 - moderately cytotoxic (inhibition between 50% and 75%) and 3- intensely cytotoxic (inhibition higher than 75%).
Results: It can be seen that significant differences were found among groups (p < 0,001). The results of this study demonstrated that Uncaria Tomentosa, in a solution of 1% and 2% presented level 0 cytotoxicity, or that this concentration was classified as not cytotoxic because it presented a cellular viability around 95,9% and 90,1% respectively when compared with the control group. As for the 3% concentration, Uncaria Tomentosa has shown to be discreetly cytotoxic (level 1) because it presented cellular viability of 73,5% when compared with the control group. When Uncaria Tomentosa concentration was 4% and 5%, it was classified as moderately cytotoxic (level 2), because it presented cellular viability of 45,8% and 42,4% respectively when compared with the control group. The DMSO and Fluconazol groups were classified as moderately cytotoxic (cellular viability of 45,4% comparing with the control group) and not cytotoxic (cellular viability of 100,9% comparing with the control group), respectively.
Conclusions: We conclude that Uncaria Tomentosa (Cat's Claw) does not present cellular toxicity at concentrations below or equal 2%, it is an phytoterapic alternative in potential and can be used as a treatment against denture stomatitis.