Evaluación experimental de la toxicidad de infusiones comerciales de muña y mate de coca mediante el crecimiento radicular de Allium cepa.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Evaluación experimental de la toxicidad de infusiones comerciales de muña y mate de coca mediante el crecimiento radicular de Allium cepa.
Alternate Title:	Experimental assessment of the toxicity of commercial muña and coca leaf infusions using Allium cepa root growth assay.
Authors:	Quispe-Llanos, Braulio¹ Braulio_quispe@usmp.pe, Meza-Cordero, Diego¹, Salazar Granara, Alberto^1,2
Source:	Revista Horizonte Médico. ene-mar2026, Vol. 26 Issue 1, p1-8. 8p.
Abstract (English):	Objective: To assess the acute toxicity of commercial muña (Minthostachys mollis) and coca leaf (Erythroxylum coca) infusions using the standardized Allium cepa (A. cepa) bioassay. Materials and methods: A randomized experimental study was conducted. Thirty-three A. cepa bulbs were randomly distributed into 11 experimental groups (n = 3). The specimens were exposed for 12 days to infusions prepared daily at graded concentrations (10 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %), with distilled water as a negative control. The solutions were systematically renewed every 24 hours under controlled environmental conditions of darkness and temperature (20–25 °C). Root length was measured at multiple time points (days 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12), and changes in fresh bulb weight were recorded; results were expressed as percentages of inhibition. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 and GraphPad Prism. The study included analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey’s HSD post hoc test, Pearson correlation, and nonlinear regression to calculate the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Results: Exposure to muña infusion showed a dose-dependent inhibition of root growth (p < 0.001), reaching a maximum value of 92.16 % on day 12 (100 % concentration). A strong positive correlation was observed (r = 0.95; p < 0.0001) and the IC50 was estimated at 42.51 % (95 % CI: 37.51–48.19). In contrast, coca leaf infusion caused statistically significant inhibition at all concentrations (maximum of 80.03 % at 75 %); the IC50 could not be estimated due to high toxicity (> 50 % inhibition at all concentrations). Regarding biomass, muña at 100 % caused a significant weight loss (Δ = −4.1 g), compared with the weight gain observed in the control group (Δ = 23.5 g; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The commercial muña and coca leaf infusions analyzed exhibited marked toxicity in the A. cepa model, limiting root growth and altering weight. These findings warn of the risks associated with indiscriminate consumption and support the need for further complementary safety studies in mammalian cell models to evaluate safety for human use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish):	Objetivo: Evaluar el nivel de toxicidad aguda de infusiones comerciales de muña (Minthostachys mollis) y mate de coca (Erythroxylum coca) mediante el bioensayo estandarizado de Allium cepa (A. cepa). Materiales y métodos: Estudio experimental con diseño aleatorizado. Se emplearon 33 bulbos de A. cepa distribuidos aleatoriamente en 11 grupos experimentales (n = 3). Los especímenes fueron expuestos durante 12 días a infusiones preparadas a diario en concentraciones escalonadas (10%, 25%, 50%, 75% y 100%); se empleó agua destilada como control negativo. Las soluciones se renovaron de manera sistemática cada 24 horas bajo condiciones ambientales controladas de oscuridad y temperatura (20–25 °C). Se cuantificaron en distintos puntos temporales la longitud radicular (días 3, 5, 8, 10 y 12) y la variación del peso fresco. Además, los datos se transformaron en porcentajes de inhibición. El análisis estadístico se realizó con SPSS versión 27 y GraphPad Prism. Se aplicaron análisis de varianza (ANOVA), la prueba post hoc de Tukey, la correlación de Pearson y la regresión no lineal para calcular la concentración inhibitoria media (IC50). Resultados: La exposición a la infusión de muña evidenció una inhibición del crecimiento radicular dosis-dependiente (p < 0,001), que alcanzó un máximo del 92,16% al día 12 (concentración 100%). Se estableció una correlación positiva fuerte (r = 0,95; p < 0,0001) y una IC50 de 42,51% (IC 95%: 37,51–48,19). Por su parte, la infusión de coca generó inhibición con significancia estadística en todas las concentraciones (máximo 80,03% al 75%); la IC50 no fue calculable debido a la alta toxicidad (>50% inhibición global). Respecto al peso, la muña al 100% provocó pérdida de biomasa (Δ = −4,1 g) significativamente distinta a la ganancia del control (Δ = 23,5 g; p < 0,01). Conclusiones: Las infusiones comerciales analizadas de muña y coca evidenciaron una marcada toxicidad en el modelo de A. cepa, lo que limitó el crecimiento radicular y alteró el peso. Estos hallazgos advierten sobre los riesgos de su consumo indiscriminado y justifican la realización de futuros estudios complementarios de seguridad en modelos celulares mamíferos para determinar su inocuidad en humanos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	MedicLatina

Description
Abstract:	Objective: To assess the acute toxicity of commercial muña (Minthostachys mollis) and coca leaf (Erythroxylum coca) infusions using the standardized Allium cepa (A. cepa) bioassay. Materials and methods: A randomized experimental study was conducted. Thirty-three A. cepa bulbs were randomly distributed into 11 experimental groups (n = 3). The specimens were exposed for 12 days to infusions prepared daily at graded concentrations (10 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %), with distilled water as a negative control. The solutions were systematically renewed every 24 hours under controlled environmental conditions of darkness and temperature (20–25 °C). Root length was measured at multiple time points (days 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12), and changes in fresh bulb weight were recorded; results were expressed as percentages of inhibition. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27 and GraphPad Prism. The study included analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey’s HSD post hoc test, Pearson correlation, and nonlinear regression to calculate the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Results: Exposure to muña infusion showed a dose-dependent inhibition of root growth (p < 0.001), reaching a maximum value of 92.16 % on day 12 (100 % concentration). A strong positive correlation was observed (r = 0.95; p < 0.0001) and the IC50 was estimated at 42.51 % (95 % CI: 37.51–48.19). In contrast, coca leaf infusion caused statistically significant inhibition at all concentrations (maximum of 80.03 % at 75 %); the IC50 could not be estimated due to high toxicity (> 50 % inhibition at all concentrations). Regarding biomass, muña at 100 % caused a significant weight loss (Δ = −4.1 g), compared with the weight gain observed in the control group (Δ = 23.5 g; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The commercial muña and coca leaf infusions analyzed exhibited marked toxicity in the A. cepa model, limiting root growth and altering weight. These findings warn of the risks associated with indiscriminate consumption and support the need for further complementary safety studies in mammalian cell models to evaluate safety for human use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	1727558X
DOI:	10.24265/horizmed.2026.v26n1.10